Gloomy forecasts in the event of a strong earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Japan wants to update disaster preparedness plan
Tokyo, Japan, Photo: Gavin Hellier / robertharding / Profimedia Images
A major earthquake that would hit the Tokyo metropolitan area could result in 18,000 victims and economic damages of 535 billion dollars, according to a government estimate, reports the WAM news agency on Saturday, taken over by Agerpres.
The estimate, made in the scenario of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 that would hit the metropolitan area, is less gloomy compared to the previous one, from 2015, but it does not reach the government's objective announced at that time, to halve the number of deaths.
The estimate ten years ago indicated 23,000 deaths and economic losses of 95 trillion yen.
Because Japan is prone to natural disasters, the government plans to update its basic plan to step up disaster preparedness after presenting the estimate to a panel of experts later this month. The estimate “could still change,” a government source said, according to Kyodo News.
The 7.3-magnitude earthquake is smaller than the 9-magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern Japan and caused multiple problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011.
The government estimates a roughly 70 percent chance of such an earthquake hitting Tokyo and the surrounding regions in the next 30 years, a scenario that would affect millions of people in the metropolitan area.
About 400,000 buildings could be destroyed, and 8.4 million people could be stranded or face difficulties returning home.
