Japan set to lift ‘megaquake’ warning

AFP | Tokyo

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Japan was set to lift a week-old warning that a “megaquake” potentially causing colossal damage and loss of life could strike, the government said. The alert that such a catastrophe might hit the archipelago of 125 million people prompted thousands of Japanese to cancel holidays and stock up on essentials, emptying shelves in some stores.

Japan’s disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura said the “special call for attention” would be lifted at 5:00 pm (0800 GMT) assuming there was no major seismic activity. Matsumura cautioned, however, that the “possibility of a major earthquake has not been eliminated”, urging people to regularly check their preparedness “for the major earthquake that is expected”.