Why on the News?
Japanese authorities have warned its citizens of a ‘megaquake’ and large tsunamis along the Nankai Trough.
What is the Nankai Trough?
- The Nankai Trough is an extensive subduction zone, nearly 900 km long.
- It is the place of collision of the Eurasian Plate over the Philippine Sea Plate.
- This trough has a history of producing large earthquakes approximately every 100 to 150 years.
- The most recent Nankai Trough quake happened in 1946 with magnitude 8.0 tremor and 6.9 metre tsunami, killing 1,330 people.
Potential for a Megaquake:
- Japan’s researchers estimated in January 2022 that there is a roughly 70% chance of a magnitude 8-9 megaquake striking the Nankai Trough within next 30 years.
- Such a quake could affect a vast region stretching from central Shizuoka, about 150 km south of Tokyo, to southwestern Miyazaki.
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