The next great quake: Risks, readiness and resilience
A major disaster will test not only buildings and infrastructure but the preparedness of millions of people.
Japan stands as one of the world's most seismically active nations. Recent earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture and Noto Peninsula have once again highlighted the country's seismic risks. Despite these threats, Japan's three largest metropolitan areas - Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya - confront unique challenges.
Just Sunday, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake rattled Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region, followed by warnings of potential aftershocks. Although the damage was relatively minor, this quake serves as a stark reminder of the seismic threats lurking beneath Japan's biggest city. The critical question remains: Are Japan's megacities and their residents adequately prepared for the far more devastating earthquake that experts have been warning about for years?
Osaka and Nagoya face the threat of a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake, while Tokyo's greatest concern is a direct earthquake beneath the capital. The Japanese government's long-held plans to establish a "second capital" outside the Tokyo metropolitan area aim to mitigate the impact of a catastrophic earthquake striking the region's heart.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
