Japan Meteorological Agency warns against earthquake prediction hoaxes amid increased seismic activity
Recent events, including the magnitude-7.1 quake, have led the JMA to acknowledge an increased likelihood of a megaquake in the region compared to normal conditions. However, the agency emphasizes the inherent difficulty in predicting such events with precision. The JMA cites past failures, such as the inability to foresee the magnitude-9 Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, despite the prior occurrence of a magnitude-7.3 quake off the Sanriku coast. This led to a policy shift in 2017, focusing on issuing alerts after significant seismic events rather than attempting precise predictions.