Japan's Dire Earthquake Forecast: Potential Double Blow for Taiwan's Neighbor

Japan's latest assessment reveals the devastating impact of a potential mega-earthquake, including the frightening scenario of two powerful tremors.

Recent projections from Japan's government task force, released on March 31st, paint a sobering picture. Should a magnitude 9 mega-earthquake strike the Nankai Trough, the estimated loss of life could reach a staggering 298,000 individuals. This assessment also considered a "semi-rupture" scenario, a chilling possibility where the earthquake unfolds in stages, leading to two powerful tremors and exacerbating the disaster.

According to the Japanese media, the Nankai Trough mega-earthquake is defined as a massive event (magnitude 8 to 9) originating from the plate boundary off the coast, stretching from Suruga Bay near Shizuoka Prefecture to Hyuga-nada, off the coast of Miyazaki Prefecture. These colossal quakes typically occur every 100 to 150 years, with the last major event being the 1946 Showa Nankai Earthquake.