(Daily Star) – Japan is bracing for a devastating earthquake that could kill thousands and force millions to flee its capital, Tokyo. The world’s largest city – when measured by metropolitan area – is home to 38million people, most of whom are aware that a calamitous tremor could happen at any time.
In 1923, Tokyo was rendered unrecognizable when a 7.9 magnitude megathrust struck just southeast of the Asian megacity. It is estimated that between 105,000 and 142,000 were killed in the horror quake that leveled huge swathes of the Japanese capital.
Many of those who perished burned to death as the tremor struck just before lunch when many were cooking their food over a fire. Analysts now fear another monster quake could happen within the next 30 years, with Dr. John Douglas of Strathclyde University has said: “The question is when not if”.
Speaking to Daily Star Online, the earthquake expert added: “Various Japanese researchers and agencies have published estimates of the probabilities of earthquakes and associated ground shaking over the next three years. “These maps show there is a high probability of a potentially damaging earthquake in Tokyo in the coming decades.” FULL REPORT
