BMKG Claims Japan’s Megathrust Earthquake This Week Could Spread to Indonesia

JAKARTA – Japan announced that its citizens should be prepared for the Japanese Nankai Megathrust earthquake which is predicted to occur this week and Indonesia is asked to be vigilant regarding this.

Based on the history collected by BMKG, it shows that the Nankai Megathrust earthquake has generated several destructive earthquakes.

For example, he said, the Hakuho Nankai Earthquake – Tsunami (684), the Ninna Nankai Earthquake (887), the Kōwa Nankaido Earthquake (1099), the Shōhei Nankaido Earthquake 8.4 magnitude – Tsunami (August 3, 1361).

Kemudian Gempa Keichō Nankaido 7.9 magnitudo – Tsunami (3 February 1605), Gempa Hoei 8.7 magnitudo – Tsunami (28 October 1707), Gempa Ansei Nankai 8.4 magnitudo – Tsunami (24 December 1854), Gempa Nankaido 8.4 magnitudo – Tsunami (21 September 1946).

Daryono explained that almost all of these powerful earthquakes triggered tsunamis, because the Nankai Megathrust system has the potential to be very active.

“If a major earthquake in the Nankai Megathrust really occurs and causes a tsunami, then we need to be aware of this, because a major tsunami could spread to Indonesia,” he said, Monday (12/8/2024).

In this megathrust zone, he continued, there is an 800 kilometer long underwater trench that stretches from Shizuoka west of Tokyo to the southern tip of Kyushu Island.

Japanese scientists, he said, the Nankai Trough has several megathrust segments which, if all the edges of the fault slip at once, could produce an earthquake measuring up to 9.1 magnitude.

This condition is also what Japanese scientists are worried about as a warning was issued after the 7.1 magnitude Miyazaki earthquake because the large earthquake was triggered by one of the segments of the Nankai Megathrust.

In this megathrust zone, there is an 800-kilometer long underwater trench that stretches from Shizuoka west of Tokyo to the southern tip of Kyushu Island, so yesterday’s 7.1 magnitude earthquake is feared to be the trigger or opener for the next major earthquake in the Nankai Thrust System.

However, he emphasized that the major earthquake in the Nankai Megathrust would not have an impact on the tectonic plate system in the Indonesian region because of its very great distance, and usually the tectonic dynamics that occur are only on a local to regional scale in the Nankai Subduction system.

Daryono also ensured that the Indonesian people need not worry because BMKG has prepared a monitoring system, processing and dissemination of earthquake information and tsunami early warnings that are increasingly fast and accurate as a step of anticipation and mitigation.

(wbs)