Govt maps response to triple quake

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The government has decided to map out a response plan for the possible occurrence of three massive, simultaneous earthquakes in the nation.

It plans to compile detailed estimates of possible damage from such an event and an outline of countermeasures from fiscal 2011.

Of all the foreseeable earthquake scenarios that could take place in and around Japan, the most destructive would be the simultaneous occurrence of the so-called Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes.

The Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes are projected events of magnitude 8 or more on the Richter scale. Their seismic hypocenters would be located along the Nankai Trough, a submarine trough that stretches through the Tokai region and Shikoku.

If the three quakes were to occur simultaneously--it is predicted that the Tonankai earthquake would trigger the Tokai and Nankai quakes--as many as 25,000 people would be killed and 550,000 buildings destroyed across the nation, according to estimates by the Cabinet Office's Central Disaster Prevention Council.

The Cabinet Office has for the first time requested more than 100 million yen for research expenses under the fiscal 2011 budget.

The government plans to conduct the first drills based on a scenario of simultaneous earthquakes on Wednesday, designated as Disaster Prevention Day.

According to government estimates, the probability of the Tonankai earthquake occurring, and having enough power to trigger Tokai and Nankai quakes, in the next 10 years is 20 percent.