Japanese PM cancels trip as scientists urge preparations amid ‘megaquake’ fear

A powerful earthquake struck Kagoshima Prefecture (Kyodo News via AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has cancelled a planned trip to Central Asia to lead the government’s response after scientists urged people to prepare for a possible “megaquake” off the country’s southern coast.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first ever “megaquake advisory” on Thursday warning of a possible future major earthquake triggered by the underwater Nankai Trough, after a magnitude 7.1 quake shook just off the eastern coast of Kyushu island earlier in the day.