Thousands cancel trips in Japan after megaquake alert

A collapsed house is seen following an earthquake in Osaki town, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, Aug 8, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo. (Photo: Reuters/Kyodo)

TOKYO: Japan's unprecedented megaquake advisory has prompted thousands of hotel cancellations in areas flagged as high-risk, dealing businesses a heavy blow in what would have been one of the busiest seasons, hoteliers said Tuesday (Aug 13).

The weather agency said last week a huge earthquake was more likely in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 jolt in the south on Thursday, which left at least 15 people injured.

The advisory, the first of its kind, does not mean a colossal tremor is imminent, but that the risk of such an event has now been elevated, if still low, authorities have said.

Subject to the warning is the so-called "Nankai Trough" 800km undersea zone that runs from Shizuoka, west of Tokyo, to the southern tip of Kyushu island.

In western Kochi, among the regions projected to be hit hardest, at least 9,400 people have cancelled their hotel bookings since the alert was issued last week, according to a local hotel union.

The cancellations covering the period from Aug 9 to Aug 18 amount to a loss of around 140 million yen (US$948,000) in revenue, Susumu Nishitani, a union representative told AFP.

This article was originally published on Channel Newsasia, CNA Online News. Its inclusion on this website is solely for education purposes.