TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled a deliberate journey to Central Asia on Friday to steer the federal government’s response after scientists urged folks to organize for a potential “megaquake” off the nation’s southern coast.

The Japan Meteorological Company issued its first ever “megaquake advisory” on Thursday warning of a potential future main earthquake triggered by the underwater Nankai Trough, after a magnitude 7.1 quake shook simply off the japanese coast of Kyushu island earlier within the day. The trough, which runs alongside Japan’s Pacific coast, was the supply of previous devastating earthquakes.

Seismologists on the company held an emergency assembly after Thursday’s quake to research whether or not it had affected the close by trough and reassessed the danger of a serious quake. They urged folks to look at excessive warning ranges for a few week.

Thursday’s quake injured 16 folks, most of them barely, and precipitated no main harm. Tsunami advisories have been issued for a number of areas however lifted hours later.

Kishida introduced that he had canceled his deliberate Aug. 9-12 journey to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia because of the advisory.

“I’ve determined to remain within the nation at the very least for a few week to guarantee that authorities measures and communication are absolutely in place,” Kishida mentioned.

The Fireplace and Catastrophe Administration Company instructed 707 municipalities designated as in danger from a Nankai Trough quake to overview their catastrophe response measures and evacuation plans.

The meteorological company’s first “megaquake advisory” sparked public unease and prompted native authorities workplaces, rail operators and different businesses to start introducing precautionary measures, affecting vacation vacationers throughout the summer time “Obon” vacation week.

Some municipalities even closed parks or cancelled occasions for the approaching week, though officers and specialists pressured that there was no must shut down any regular exercise. They mentioned the advisory was aimed solely at elevating consciousness of a elevated chance over the long run, and that it was not for any particular timeframe or location.

Chief Cupboard Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi referred to as on folks to hold on each day social and financial actions resembling touring.

Nonetheless, cities resembling Higashi Osaka referred to as on residents to not interact in “pointless and non-urgent” journey in case of a serious quake. Different municipalities opened shelters, referred to as on residents to top off emergency meals and water and to debate evacuation plans amongst members of the family.

The favored seaside city of Shirahama in Wakayama prefecture mentioned its 4 seashores, out of doors sizzling springs, parks and different services can be closed for the subsequent week. An annual fireworks competition deliberate for Saturday was canceled.

Aoshima, one other widespread seaside resort in Miyazaki prefecture, which was hardest hit by Thursday’s quake, additionally was closed.

Rail firms serving the area mentioned their trains will function at barely diminished speeds as a precautionary measure.

In a 2013 report, a authorities catastrophe prevention workforce mentioned that if a magnitude 9.1 quake struck close to the southern coast, it may generate a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (33 toes) with a dying toll of greater than 300,000 and financial harm of greater than 220 trillion yen ($1.5 trillion) in a worst case state of affairs.