Japan Lifts ‘Megaquake’ Warning After One Week of Heightened Precautions

Japan has officially lifted its warning regarding a potential “megaquake” one week after it was issued. The alert, which advised people to remain vigilant but not evacuate, indicated an increased likelihood of a significant earthquake without suggesting that one was imminent.

The Japanese government announced that citizens could now resume their normal activities, as the situation has stabilized. This announcement follows a period during which thousands of Japanese residents canceled travel plans, stocked up on supplies, and experienced disruptions in high-speed rail services.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that, as of Wednesday, no seismic activity indicating concerning changes in the region presumed to be at risk had been detected. Despite the lifting of the warning, disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura emphasized that the underlying risk of a major earthquake persists.

While the warning has been lifted, Minister Matsumura clarified that the absence of detected abnormalities in “seismic activity and crustal deformation” led to the decision to relax the heightened state of preparedness. He reassured the public that there is no longer a need for special precautions, such as sleeping with the intention of being ready to evacuate immediately.

The initial warning came shortly after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern island of Kyushu. Experts raised their alert level due to the quake’s proximity to the Nankai Trough, a region of significant seismic activity along Japan’s Pacific coast.