Japan Issues Warning: Megaquake Could Kill 300,000, Trigger Massive Tsunamis

A newly released Japanese government report has heightened fears of a catastrophic megaquake that could cause massive devastation and claim hundreds of thousands of lives. The report, published on Monday, warns that Japan faces the looming threat of a long-anticipated earthquake off its Pacific coast, potentially triggering tsunamis, collapsing buildings, and killing around 300,000 people.

Last year, Japan issued its first-ever megaquake advisory, stating there was a "relatively higher chance" of a magnitude 9 earthquake in the region after a magnitude 7.1 quake struck at the edge of the seismic trough. According to a report accessed by Reuters, such an event could result in economic losses of up to $1.81 trillion (270.3 trillion yen), nearly half of Japan's total GDP. This figure surpasses previous estimates of 214.2 trillion yen, as inflation and updated terrain data have expanded the projected flood zones.

In the worst-case scenario, if a magnitude 9 quake were to hit, Japan could see 1.23 million evacuees, roughly 10% of its population. If the earthquake occurs at night during winter, as many as 298,000 people could perish due to tsunamis and collapsing structures, the report states.

Japan, one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, faces an 80% probability of experiencing a magnitude 8 to 9 earthquake along the Nankai Trough, a volatile seabed zone off the country's southwest Pacific coast. The 900-kilometer (600-mile) trough marks the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, where accumulating tectonic strain has historically resulted in megaquakes every 100 to 150 years.

The threat is particularly alarming given Japan's past experiences. In 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami and a nuclear disaster, killing more than 15,000 people. Now, with new data reinforcing the possibility of another massive quake, the nation is bracing for what could be one of the most devastating natural disasters in its history.