A years-old manga that predicts a “megaquake” will strike on July 5 has fueled panic and deterred travelers, despite scientists agreeing that precise predictions are not possible with current technologies.
Ryo Tatsuki’s 2021 reprint of The Future I Saw warns of a massive tsunami similar to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which killed over 18,000 people. However, Tatsuki recently scaled back her prediction, and the Japanese government has urged the public not to take irrational actions.
The warning has been fueled by social media content with millions of views and has led two airlines to cut down on flights to southern Japan. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has repeatedly stated that predicting earthquakes is difficult due to current scientific knowledge.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes, and a recent report estimates an 80% chance of a megaquake along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, which could result in up to 298,000 deaths. The JMA emphasizes its reliability as a source of information on earthquakes in Japan, alongside other reputable organizations.
Experts advise that concern is understandable given Japan’s history and frequency of earthquakes, but caution against taking actions driven by anxiety.
Source: https://time.com/7300133/japan-manga-earthquake-panic