"Massive Earthquake" Broadcast Echoes Through Dawn... Tokyo Anxious Over "Another Strike"

[Anchor]

A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Tokyo metropolitan area and surrounding regions in Japan early this morning (August 23). This marks the first time in five years that shaking of intensity 5 or higher has been recorded in Tokyo, raising concerns that it could be a precursor to a massive earthquake in Japan's capital region.

Here is a report from correspondent Mun Junmo.

[Reporter]

Tokyo Haneda International Airport early this morning.

Amid warning broadcasts, lanterns and panels beneath the eaves sway back and forth.

[This is an urgent earthquake bulletin. Please watch out for 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 tight.

At around 2:00 a.m. today, a magnitude 5.9 strong earthquake occurred south of Ibaraki Prefecture on Japan's Honshu island.

Shaking of lower-5 intensity on the Japanese seismic scale, which caused dishes and books to fall from shelves, was observed in Tokyo and other parts of the metropolitan area.

This is the first time in five years that shaking of lower-5 intensity or higher has been recorded in central Tokyo, prompting fears that it may be a precursor to a direct inland earthquake in the capital, a massive quake of magnitude 7 or higher expected to hit the metropolitan region.

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

Concerns are especially high in Tokyo, where high-rise buildings are densely clustered.

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

In the event of an emergency, it stores meals and aluminum blankets in its basement warehouse to sustain 3,600 people for three days.

The building emphasizes that it can remain usable even in a powerful earthquake on the scale of the Great East Japan Earthquake, equipped with more than 1,800 vibration-control devices, including shock-absorbing systems that utilize the viscosity of sticky oil to absorb earthquake tremors.

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

[Toyama / Manager, Structural Design Department, Mori Building: Even an impact severe enough for a meteorite to fall would still register as intensity 7 on the scale. To say everything would be fine against a situation of that extent would be a lie.]

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

(Video reporting: Han Chul-min, Video editing: Wee Won-yang, Design: Park Chun-woong, Footage provided by: @sack_backstage, @groundorago_opn, @qV2PKwrPKYS7Rrl, @aseetsu)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.