Japanese Prime Minister cancels Central Asia trip due to risk of super earthquake
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has canceled a planned visit to Central Asia on August 9. Instead, he will focus on directing preventive measures at home, following an unprecedented warning that the risk of a strong earthquake on the Pacific coast is higher than usual, Reuters reported.
According to RT, the Japan Meteorological Agency on August 8 issued its first warning of the risk of a mega-earthquake on the country's Pacific coast, after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the southwestern island of Kyushu the same day.
Reuters also said that although the warning did not specify a time frame or call for evacuation, Mr. Kishida told a news conference: "I have decided to stay in the country for about a week to ensure our preparations and communications are done well."
"But this is the first time a warning has been issued and I believe people will feel worried about it," he added. "Therefore, I have decided to cancel my planned visit to Central Asia and Mongolia."
Japan's national broadcaster NHK said the government would instead hold online meetings with regional leaders. The visit to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia was originally scheduled for August 9-12.
Japan's meteorological agency warned of the possibility of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trench, an undersea trench that runs along Japan's Pacific coast where previous tremors have triggered large tsunamis.
The advisory does not give any indication that an earthquake is certain, but encourages people to prepare to evacuate if necessary.
According to Japan's Ministry of Infrastructure, the estimated chance of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or 9 occurring around this trench in the next 30 years is 70-80%.
