JAPAN’S weather agency has issued its first ever megaquake warning in the north of the country after a horror magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck on Monday.
could wreak havoc in the Hokkaido-Sanriku area causing a terrifying 98-foot tsunami and killing as many as 199,000.
A terrifying 98-foot tsunami could kill nearly 200,000Credit: Reuters
Authorities have urged residents living near the Pacific coast to form escape plansCredit: EPA
Credit: Getty
Japan’s Meteorological Agency believes their is greater risk of a megaquakeCredit: EPA
The tidal wave could blast through 220,000 homes and buildings as well as triggering 31 trillion yen (nearly £150 billion) costs in damages.
Authorities have urged residents living near the Pacific coast to form escape plans in the event they need to flee their homes.
Officials have told inhabitants to remain vigilant in the coming weeks.
Following Monday’s huge tremor, Japan’s Meteorological Agency believes there is greater risk of a megaquake with a magnitude of eight or higher within the next week.
This major convulsion could occur along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.
The warning covers roughly 800 miles (1,300km) from the northeastern coast of Chiba to Hokkaido – its the first megaquake advisory since the category was introduced in 2022.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has cautioned residents as Japan braces for disaster.
She told them to be prepared and ready to evacuate as soon as tremors are felt.
After the earthquake on Monday, Takaichi said: “Due to this earthquake, the likelihood of a large earthquake occurring from Hokkaido to the Sanriku offshore region is now assessed to be higher than normal.
“Accordingly, the ‘Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory’ has been issued.”
The Prime Minister added: “Regardless of whether your area was affected by this earthquake, residents in regions where disaster-preparedness measures are advised should, over the next week or so, pay close attention to information from the Japan Meteorological Agency and local authorities.”
On Monday, the bombshell earthquake struck around 11:15pm in the ocean, approximately 50 miles off the coast of Aomori.
The Pacific quake injured at least 34 people and tsunami warnings were retrospectively put in place.
Daiki Shimohata, 33, a civil servant in Hashikami, said: “The tremor was something that we’ve never experienced. It lasted maybe for about 20 seconds.
“We were holding our children — a 2-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy — in our arms. The shaking reminded me of the disaster (in 2011).”
Huge waves of up to 70cm were sighted and reported to several coastal communities.
Officials have claimed the probability of a magnitude eight or larger earthquake is approximately one per cent.
But they hope the alert will serve as a reminder to those who have become too relaxed since the 2011 earthquakes that killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed a nuclear power plant.
The 2011 quake triggered Tsunamis that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima districts.
It peaked at a horrifying 50 feet in some districts and obliterated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that sent many spiralling and fearing the radiation could linger.
After this weeks devastating tremors power plants across the area conducted urgent reviews as a precaution.
Back in the summer of 2024, the southern half of Japan’s Pacific coastline received a “Nankai Trough” megaquake advisory.
The alert appeared to be quite vague as residents went wild panic buying emergency supplies, cancelling events and closing businesses.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told residents to be prepared and ready to evacuate as soon as tremors are feltCredit: AP
Evacuees were pictured get ready to return home as the tsunami advisory has been lifted in Hidaka townCredit: AP
Homes and building have already been damaged by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on MondayCredit: Reuters
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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