Japan Calls for Ongoing Vigilance on Possible Tremors and Tsunamis
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Synopsis
On January 20, the Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain cautious of potential tremors and tsunamis. A recent magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Kyushu, leading to multiple aftershocks and prompting new disaster management initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- Japan Meteorological Agency warns of potential tremors.
- Magnitude 6.6 earthquake impacted Kyushu region.
- 12 aftershocks recorded since January 13 quake.
- New initiatives for disaster management are underway.
- JAXA collaborates with Kumamoto for damage assessment technology.
Tokyo, Jan 20 (NationPress) The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a warning for ongoing vigilance regarding possible tremors and tsunamis, even as there has been a gradual decline in seismic activity following the magnitude 6.6 earthquake that impacted the Kyushu region.
The earthquake resulted in a tremor rated at 5 Lower on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in Miyazaki City and several other locations, leading to a tsunami measuring 20 centimeters.
As of 11 am local time on Monday, 12 aftershocks with a magnitude of 1 or higher on the seismic intensity scale have been recorded since the quake on January 13, according to reports from national broadcaster NHK.
The JMA indicated that seismic activity was notably heightened for three days following the initial earthquake but has since subsided. Although the chances of another tremor of similar intensity have reduced, residents are still advised to stay prepared for both earthquakes and tsunamis, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Recently, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) entered into a collaboration with Kumamoto prefecture to enhance a program aimed at assessing earthquake-induced building damage through satellite imagery, as reported by local media.
Under the partnership announced on Friday, JAXA plans to utilize approximately 200,000 data points regarding damage from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake to improve and refine the accuracy of its technology, which is expected to be implemented nationwide, according to Kyodo News.
This program will analyze satellite images captured before and after an earthquake to evaluate the extent of structural damage within a span of 2-3 hours post-observation.
The system is also capable of functioning effectively during nighttime and adverse weather conditions, as per the report.
JAXA hopes that the program will be operational within a few years.
Last month, Japanese media reported that the Cabinet Office's disaster management division intends to assign designated officers to each prefecture starting from the next fiscal year as a precaution for potential significant disasters such as a Nankai Trough megaquake or an earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
The Cabinet Office is advancing plans to deploy around 50 officers across prefectures, focusing on promoting stockpile management and volunteer collaboration in normal times, while also managing damage assessment and organizing evacuation shelters during disasters, according to Xinhua news agency.
To support this initiative, the Cabinet Office aims to double its current workforce of 110 and seek an accompanying increase in its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, as reported by national broadcaster NHK, citing discussions with government officials.
This latest initiative is part of a broader aim to establish a 'Disaster Management Agency' by fiscal year 2026.
Recent disasters, including the Noto Peninsula earthquake, have highlighted challenges like insufficient supplies in municipal stockpiles and delays in setting up evacuation shelters across Japan.
The Japanese Government has implemented an emergency broadcasting system known as 'J-Alert'. This system guarantees that essential information reaches individuals in affected areas during various emergencies, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and civil protection issues. J-Alert utilizes multiple methods to communicate with the public.
Additionally, since 2007, smartphones have been equipped with an earthquake early warning system that sounds an alarm just before an earthquake strikes.
This system, the first of its kind globally, generates alerts based on initial minor tremors that occur seconds or tens of seconds before a significant quake, urging individuals to prepare for evacuation.
The system employs seismometers and seismic intensity meters that gauge tremors from the Japan Meteorological Agency (approximately 690 locations nationwide) alongside a seismographic observation network from the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (around 1000 locations nationwide).
