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Alsharq Tribune-AFP
A Japanese government panel has revised its estimate of the chances of a megaquake occurring in the Nankai Trough, off the country's Pacific coast, within the next 30 years from 80 percent to a range of around 60 to 90 percent, or higher.
The latest revision reflects a new calculation method that takes into account data errors and uncertain ties in predictions, Japan's earthquake investigation panel said Friday, noting that it does not mean that the risk of an earthquake has increased.
The panel had put the megaquake probability rate at around 80 percent in January this year.
"The situation remains that an earthquake could occur at any time. We urge continued progress in disaster preparedness," head of the panel Naoshi Hirata, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo, said.
Nankai Trough is an ocean-floor trench that runs along Japan's Pacific coast. Megaquakes along the trough are believed to occur every 100 to 150 years. The 1946 Nankai earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 8.0, is the last confirmed quake linked to it.
