OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
TOKYO: Japan has warned of a 70–80% chance of a magnitude 8–9 earthquake along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, which could trigger a devastating tsunami and widespread damage.
The government has revised its national disaster plan to aim for an 80% reduction in fatalities and to mandate earthquake-resistant buildings by 2035.
The Nankai Trough, an undersea trench off southwestern Japan, has drawn public attention following the occurrence of over 1,000 minor earthquakes across southern Japan within just 13 days. This has prompted widespread concern over the potential for a major earthquake and a powerful tsunami.
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, located along volcanic belts and oceanic trenches known as the Ring of Fire. The Nankai Trough is considered one of the most dangerous earthquake zones. It stretches approximately 900 kilometres off the Pacific coast, where the Philippine Sea Plate subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate. This continuous tectonic motion causes a gradual buildup of pressure that could be released abruptly in the form of a large-scale megathrust earthquake.
These massive earthquakes tend to occur in the Nankai Trough every 90 to 200 years, and the region is now approaching the estimated timeframe for the next one. Over the past 1,300 years, at least 13 major earthquakes have been recorded along the trough. The two most recent were the Tonankai earthquake (1944) and the Nankaido earthquake (1946), both registering a magnitude of 8.1 and triggering tsunamis between 5 to 10 metres high, causing over 2,500 deaths and 4,500 injuries.
High probability of a major earthquake within 30 years
According to Japan’s Cabinet Office for disaster management, there is a 70–80% probability of a magnitude 8 to 9 earthquake occurring along the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years. The worst-case scenario could involve a magnitude 9 earthquake striking on a winter night with strong winds (8 metres per second), when many people may be unprepared to evacuate.
This scenario could result in up to 298,000 deaths, the destruction of over 2.35 million buildings, and large-scale tsunamis affecting major cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. The total economic impact is estimated at US$2 trillion, exceeding the damage caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The effects would extend beyond Japan. Countries and territories throughout the Pacific Ocean basin, including Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hawaii, and the US West Coast, could also be affected. Global supply chains could face major disruptions due to delayed exports from Japan, interrupted flights, and widespread economic fallout.
Calls for urgent risk mitigation
Professor Nobuo Fukuwa, former professor at Nagoya University and head of the seismic risk assessment team, has called for comprehensive national measures to reduce risk. He urges the government and private sector to reinforce earthquake resistance standards for all buildings and to decentralise urban populations in densely populated cities.
“My greatest regret is that we have been unable to reduce the anticipated risks. Minimising the potential damage is of utmost importance, as the consequences of a major earthquake along the Nankai Trough could be catastrophic for the future of the nation,” he stated.
Revised national disaster management plan underway
Given the unpredictability of earthquake timing and location, the Japanese government has prioritised disaster preparedness. On July 1, the central disaster management council convened at the Prime Minister’s official residence to approve an updated basic disaster management plan, which includes enhanced measures specifically targeting the anticipated Nankai earthquake.
Following a new damage assessment, 16 additional municipalities have been designated as areas requiring intensified disaster measures, raising the total to 723 municipalities in 30 prefectures. These areas are expected to experience earthquake intensities of level 6 or higher or tsunamis of at least 3 metres, particularly along the Pacific coastline, from Ibaraki to Okinawa.
The revised plan, an improvement of the 2014 version, aims to reduce casualties by 80% and structural damage by 50% over the next decade. While previous targets were not fully achieved, the government remains committed to these ambitious, life-saving goals.
Strengthened local measures and public preparedness
The plan includes extensive support for local governments in implementing safety measures, promoting the establishment of tsunami warning zones, developing and distributing hazard maps, and conducting evacuation drills by fiscal year 2030. All homes in designated high-risk areas are required to be earthquake-resistant by fiscal year 2035.
To further prevent disaster-related fatalities, the government will support the stockpiling of essential supplies such as portable toilets and bedding, and improve conditions at evacuation shelters, particularly in tsunami-prone coastal areas. Additionally, municipalities and logistics industry associations will be encouraged to form agreements to secure emergency transportation systems during disasters. - The Nation/ANN
FUJIAN, 9 Julai -Hujan lebat yang dicetuskan Ribut Tropika Danas di sini, mengakibatkan tanah runtuh dan banjir kilat pada Rabu.
Menurut laporan stesen penyiar CCTV, sekolah di Fuzhou terpaksa ditutup, selepas pihak berkuasa mengaktifkan protokol kecemasan banjir dan taufan.
"Biro Pendidikan Perbandaran Fuzhou telah mengumumkan bahawa disebabkan hujan lebat, hari ini, semua aktiviti pendidikan dan pengajaran di Fuzhou ditangguhkan," lapor CCTV.
Turut digantung, perkhidmatan kereta api di bahagian tenggara Wilayah Jiangxi seperti laluan Wenzhou–Fuzhou (Wenfu), Ganzhou–Ruijin–Longyan (Ganruilong) dan Xingguo–Quanzhou (Xingquan).
Sementara itu, pihak berkuasa meteorologi mengeluarkan amaran berjaga-jaga sebagai langkah yang sewajarnya terhadap risiko tanah runtuh dan banjir lumpur yang disebabkan oleh hujan yang berterusan.
Cuaca ekstrem yang didorong oleh perubahan iklim adalah masalah besar bagi China kerana populasinya yang padat dan statusnya sebagai ekonomi global kedua terbesar dunia. -REUTERS
KUALA LUMPUR – Seorang wakil rakyat di Selangor menyifatkan Petronas telah dibebankan dengan sesuatu yang besar selepas insiden letupan paip gas di Putra Heights pada April lalu.
Menurut Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS – Sijangkang) meskipun tidak dinafikan syarikat minyak negara mempunyai tanggungjawab namun respons yang diberikan berhubung insiden itu sangat konkrit.
“Kita lihat seolah-olah Petronas tidak mempunyai tempat dan tampil secara terbuka. Adakah (Petronas) tidak diberikan ruang dan sejak peringkat awal, sudut pembangunan dan pematuhan cukup jelas.
“Petronas beri jaminan keselamatan dan saya kira ini melegakan penduduk yang menetap di sepanjang saluran paip itu,’’ katanya semasa membahaskan mengenai insiden letupan gas di Putra Heights, pada sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Selangor, hari ini.
Dalam kejadian kebakaran salur paip gas di Putra Heights pada April lalu, 81 rumah di kawasan itu musnah sepenuhnya dengan kerosakan struktur melebihi 40% manakala 81% separa musnah, 57% rumah terkesan, tetapi tidak terbakar manakala 218 rumah tidak terjejas termasuk di Kampung Tengah, Puchong.
Senada dengan Sijangkang ialah Datuk Ab Halim Tamuri (PAS-Paya Jaras) yang menyifatkan Petronas perlu diberikan peluang selain meminta pihak terbabit supaya telus dalam insiden kebakaran berkenaan.
Malah katanya, Petronas turut menyumbang sebanyak RM25 juta melalui Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan untuk tujuan pembinaan semula rumah mangsa.
“Minta semua pihak telus. Penting kebajikan rakyat diberikan tumpuan. Mohon bila berlaku bencana, minta wakil rakyat juga dilibatkan. Bila berlaku bencana besar libatkan rakyat, ada kesan, apalah kiranya wakil rakyat dijemput untuk dapatkan maklumat dan sama-sama bersatu membantu rakyat,’’ katanya.
Manakala Wan Dzahanurin Ahmad (Bersatu – Sungai Kandis) pula meluahkan kekecewaan dan terkilan kerana kerajaan negeri tidak meneruskan siasatan jenayah dan mengkalisfikasikan sebagai Tiada Tindakan Lanjut (NFA).
“Adakah nyawa rakyat begitu murah hingga tragedi boleh ditutup tanpa tindakan segera sedangkan hakikatnya puluhan rumah terbakar dan beratus cedera termasuk kanak-kanak, orang tua dan ibu mengandung,’’ katanya.
Wan Dzahanurin percaya Petronas lebih tegas dalam soal keselamatan penduduk tetapi pada masa sama, beliau yang mewakili Perikatan Nasional (PN) mendesak supaya keputusan NFA disemak semula.
“Kami juga memohon siasatan bebas atau audit luar dilantik bagi meneliti keputusan itu,’’ katanya.
Pada 30 Jun lalu, laporan siasatan kebakaran paip gas di Putra Height mengenalpasti kelemahan struktur tanah yang menyebabkan paip berada dalam keadaan tidak disokong sepenuhnya.
Siasatan juga mendapati tiada unsur khianat dalam insiden pada 1 April itu. – 9 Julai, 2025
SHAH ALAM – Kerja-kerja penambakan tanah bagi pemajuan di kawasan Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, dekat sini sebelum ini antara aspek siasatan baharu yang oleh dilakukan menjurus kepada letupan paip gas.
Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari berkata, ia boleh disiasat oleh Jawatankuasa Khas Adaptasi Risiko Saliran Paip Gas yang akan dianggotai tujuh pakar selepas ini.
Katanya, ini berikutan struktur tanah memberikan sumbangan kepada pergerakan paip sehingga berlakunya kerosakan dan letupan itu.
“Walaupun keutuhan paip, kerja-kerja atasan dan struktur tanah, akhirnya struktur tanah menjadi punca utama kepada pergerakan paip yang akhirnya menyebabkan letupan dan pecah-pecahan.
“Justeru, proses penambakan tanah di atas kawasan tersebut bagi pemajuan sebelum ini adalah satu benda yang boleh disemak jawatankuasa itu yang boleh menjurus kepada mereka yang bertanggungjawab,” katanya pada penggulungan perbahasan isu Putra Heights di Sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Selangor, hari ini.
Beliau memberitahu, terdapat tiga paip di lokasi kejadian dengan paip yang meletup adalah berada di tengah yang bersaiz 2.54 sentimer ( 36 inci) yang dipasang dan ditauliahkan pada tahun 2020.
“Kalau kedua-dua pembangunan di Putra Harmoni mahupun rumah kedai tersebut memberikan kesan atau impak pergerakan tanah sudah pastinya paip di Hong & Hong Homes (rumah kedai) dan Putra Harmoni akan menunjukkan herotan yang jelas. Tetapi yang pecah adalah paip di tengah-tengah.
“Itu nampak kesan herotan atau tarikan antara 24 hingga 25 sentimer yang kemudiannya dikenal pasti meledak dan meletus gas itu yang tempohnya antaranya tujuh saat,” katanya.
Amirudin menambah, penyelenggaran utama paip dilakukan dalam tempoh empat tahun sekali dan semakan pula dalam tempoh 10 tahun.
“Kebetulan semakan akan dibuat Petronas pada September ini tetapi paip itu pecah. Berhubung sistem pengesanan awal sudah pasti perlu dipertingkatkan pada pandangan saya namun jawatankuasa boleh laporkan lebih teliti bagaimana sensor itu,” katanya. – KOSMO! ONLINE
SHAH ALAM: The debate on the Putra Heights gas explosion during the Selangor state assembly sitting demonstrates the state government’s transparency and dedication to public safety, according to Speaker Lau Weng San.
He noted that nine assemblymen from both government and opposition sides participated, reflecting a robust democratic process and a proactive approach to addressing public concerns.
“This assembly is transparent and broadcast live on social media daily,” Lau told reporters at the Selangor State Assembly building lobby.
He commended the high-quality discussion, with active and constructive contributions from elected representatives.
Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari tabled a motion on the incident, sparking debates involving figures such as Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN–Sijangkang) and Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri (PN–Paya Jaras). The assembly sitting will continue tomorrow at 10am. - Bernama