Reuters called the amount of damage from a possible powerful earthquake in the Nankai fault

Japanese authorities are warning of a high probability of a strong earthquake in the Nankai fault off the Pacific coast, which could become one of the most destructive in recent years. According to government estimates, the economic damage could reach $1.81 trillion, and the number of victims could reach 300,000 people. This was reported on March 31 by the Reuters news agency, citing a government report.

"Under a worst-case scenario based on a potential magnitude 9 earthquake in the area, Japan is likely to see 1.23 million evacuees, or 1% of the total population. Up to 298,000 people may die from a tsunami and building collapse if an earthquake occurs late at night in winter," the article says.

According to the Japanese authorities, an earthquake of magnitude 8-9 may occur in the Nankai trench with a probability of 80%. After the earthquake, a tsunami with waves of more than 30 m will hit the east coast of Japan.

It is specified that the depression is located off the southwestern coast of the Pacific Ocean of Japan and stretches for about 900 km, where the Philippine Sea plate goes under the Eurasian plate. Accumulating tectonic stresses lead to such large-scale earthquakes about once every 100-150 years.

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Earlier in the day, NHK reported on a powerful earthquake that could occur in the next 30 years in the Nankai Fault, causing the deaths of over 290 thousand Japanese residents. It is expected that the incident will destroy more than 2.35 million buildings located in the country.