Authorities in Japan advised against hoarding as concerns over a potential large earthquake led to a surge in demand for disaster supplies and essentials on Saturday.
The weather agency issued its first warning, stating that a major earthquake was more likely following a magnitude 7.1 quake in the south on Thursday that injured 14 people.
A Tokyo supermarket displayed a sign apologizing for product shortages, blaming it on “quake-related media reports”. The sign mentioned potential sales restrictions and rationing of bottled water due to unstable procurement.
Japanese e-commerce site Rakuten listed portable toilets, preserved food, and bottled water as the most sought-after items on Saturday morning.
Retailers along the Pacific coastline also reported high demand for disaster supplies, according to local media.
The advisory pertains to the Nankai Trough subduction zone in the Pacific Ocean, known for past massive earthquakes.
– Low risk –
The Nankai Trough has historically experienced destructive earthquakes of magnitude eight or nine every century or two, with a possibility of a big one occurring within the next 30 years estimated at 70% by the central government.
Experts stress that the risk, while elevated, is still low, with the agriculture and fisheries ministry urging people not to hoard goods excessively.
A magnitude-5.3 tremor hit the Kanazawa region near Tokyo on Friday, causing mobile phone alarms and brief suspension of bullet train operations.
Seismologists believe the Friday tremor was not directly linked to the Nankai Trough megaquake due to distance.
Spam posts on social media platforms are taking advantage of fears over the megaquake, with fake quake-related tips leading users to inappropriate content or e-commerce sites.
The Japanese archipelago, sitting on four major tectonic plates, experiences around 1,500 quakes annually, mostly minor.
In January, a 7.6 quake and aftershocks hit Noto Peninsula, killing at least 318 people and causing significant damage.
tmo/fox
