Japan warns of potential mega-earthquake in Nankai trough

The likelihood of a powerful earthquake in the Nankai Trough off the coast of Japan has temporarily increased following a recent quake near the southwestern island of Kyushu, according to the country's national meteorological agency.

"The probability of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough has become higher than usual," the agency stated in a report. It also warned of the risk of a devastating tsunami along the Pacific coast, stretching from the southern island of Okinawa to Tokyo and its neighboring prefectures.

Japanese seismologists have been growing increasingly concerned about the potential for a catastrophic earthquake in the Nankai Trough, located southeast of the central part of Japan's main island, Honshu.

Scientists predict a 70-80% probability of an earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or 9 striking within the next 30 years. Such an event would significantly impact a large portion of the country, potentially unleashing a tsunami over 30 meters high along the Pacific coast.