TOKYO, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Japanese weather agency said on Thursday that the risk of a massive earthquake occurring around the Nankai Trough, which runs along the Pacific coast, has become higher than usual, Kyodo News Agency reported.
This is the first advisory of its kind issued, following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted southwestern Japan on Thursday.
A panel of experts assessing the matter said the probability of a major earthquake along the Nankai Trough has increased "several times" and called for people to be prepared for any eventuality.
The Japanese government has estimated a 70 to 80 per cent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 quake occurring along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, with the number of deaths possibly set to reach up to 323,000.
--BERNAMA-KYODO
