Saturday, March 29, 2025
Japan Faces Risk of Another Major Earthquake: Severe Warning Issued for the Next 7 Days
Summary:
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a rare and extraordinary special warning — only the second of its kind — stating that there is a possibility of another earthquake of equal or greater magnitude striking the same region within the next week.
December 10, 2025 | 5:00 PM IST
A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan late Monday night, shaking the entire country. The quake hit off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, injuring 51 people, damaging dozens of buildings, and triggering a 70-centimetre tsunami. What has caused deeper concern is the “mega-thrust earthquake precautionary warning” issued on Tuesday morning — a rare alert in Japan’s history.
This warning indicates that another destructive earthquake, measuring 7.5 magnitude or higher, could potentially hit the same region within the next seven days.
The Japan Meteorological Agency revealed that this is only the second time such a warning has ever been issued. According to the agency, the recent quake has significantly increased the probability of an unusually large earthquake.
The agency also warned that such a powerful quake could trigger a large-scale tsunami or extremely strong ground shaking.
Local media reports that the likelihood of such an event occurring within the next week is approximately 1%, though even such a small probability is taken very seriously in Japan. The warning applies to the Sanriku Coast and parts of Hokkaido, both facing the Pacific Ocean.
Japan issued a similar alert in August 2024 for the Nankai Trough, an 800-km-long undersea trench where major tectonic plates collide. Government estimates at the time suggested that a mega-quake and tsunami in that region could kill up to 298,000 people and cause $2 trillion in economic damage.
The 2024 warning was withdrawn after one week, but it caused panic buying, mass travel cancellations, and widespread concern among residents — something officials are wary of seeing again.
Geologists Kyle Bradley and Judith A. Hubbard emphasized that while sequences of large earthquakes can occur, predicting them with certainty is impossible. They stated:
A massive earthquake does not necessarily mean a stronger one will follow.
Such sequences do happen but are extremely rare.
Scientists rely only on historical data, which shows that a large quake immediately following another is uncommon.
Japan remains on high alert as authorities continue to monitor seismic activity closely. Residents in the affected regions have been advised to remain cautious, stay updated with official alerts, and follow all emergency preparedness guidelines.
