Japan must get prepared for even more powerful earthquakes

Japanese government is preparing for the occurrence of more severe earthquakes than those previously anticipated. A government study already referred to this possibility in April 2012. Analysts’ assessment is based on the Nankai fault (off the main island of the archipelago), which was behind the powerful earthquakes including the one of 8.7 magnitude in 1707.

The new estimates show that a 9 magnitude earthquake, on the Richter scale, at the level of this fault, would produce 2.3 trillion USD of damages, that is, 2.7 times more than the previous projections made in 2003. Earthquakes of magnitude 8 occur every 100 to 150 years. The last one having exceeded this power, dates back to 1854 (8.4), more than 150 years ago.