Dawn Earthquake Shakes Tokyo: How Are High-Rises Prepared?

[Anchor]

A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the greater Tokyo area early yesterday morning (August 23). This marks the first time in five years that an earthquake of intensity 5 or higher has been recorded, raising concerns that an even stronger magnitude 7 or greater quake could occur.

Correspondent Mun Junmo reports from Tokyo.

[Reporter]

Lanterns and panels under eaves sway alongside warning broadcasts.

[Emergency earthquake bulletin. Please beware of strong shaking.]

In the deserted downtown area, streetlights swing violently and warning broadcasts echo through the streets.

[It's a big earthquake.]

Woken up by the alarm, a father hurriedly hugs his baby.

At around 2 a.m., a strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck south of Ibaraki Prefecture on Japan's Honshu island.

Shaking of lower intensity 5 (intensity 5-lower), which caused dishes and books to fall from shelves, was observed in the metropolitan area, including Tokyo.

As this is the first time in five years that shaking of intensity 5-lower or higher has been observed in central Tokyo, worries are growing that it could be a precursor to a capital-region direct earthquake, a massive magnitude 7 or greater quake expected to hit the metropolitan area.

The Japanese government has predicted a 70% probability of a capital-region direct earthquake occurring within the next 30 years, with an estimated death toll of 18,000 people.

Concerns are particularly high in Tokyo due to its concentration of high-rise buildings.

Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, Tokyo's tallest building at 64 floors and 325 meters high.

In the basement storage, it keeps food supplies and aluminum blankets to sustain 3,600 people for three days in an emergency.

It boasts more than 1,800 damping devices, including oil dampers that use the viscosity of sticky oil to absorb earthquake tremors, emphasizing that the building can remain functional even against a mega-earthquake on the scale of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

However, being prepared for an intensity of 7, the highest rating, does not guarantee 100 percent safety.

[Toyama / Manager, Structural Design Department, Mori Building: Even an impact severe enough from a meteorite crash would still register as intensity 7. It would be a lie to say that everything can withstand even a scenario like that.]

The Japanese government and private sector plan to conduct large-scale disaster prevention drills around September 1, marking the 103rd anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake.

(Video taken by Han Chul-min, Video edited by Wee Won-yang, Design by Park Chun-woong, Footage provided by @sack_backstage, @groundorago_opn, @qV2PKwrPKYS7Rrl, @aseetsu)

※