Japanese Prime Minister Kishida has cancelled a planned trip to Central Asia. He did so after the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned of a “huge earthquake.” Kishida told a news conference that this was the first time the agency had issued such a warning.

The prime minister bears the ultimate responsibility in the event of a crisis in the country and that is why he remains in the country. Kishida said: “I have decided to stay in the country for the next week to make sure our preparations and communications are sound.”

The JMA warning came after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake was felt in the southwest of the country. Sixteen people were injured and several buildings were damaged. A tsunami warning was also issued for coastal areas on Kyushu island.

The Japanese government has already predicted, based on research, that a major earthquake will occur in the Nankai Trench, a deep fault off the coast of Japan, in the next 30 years.

Yesterday’s quake increased the risk of such a large earthquake, according to JMA. A large quake there could lead to a major earthquake. 300,000 deadThe government hopes to prevent a large number of deaths by taking timely action.

The JMA is urging people in areas along the Nankai Fault to take precautions: secure furniture, know where you can take shelter, and make agreements with family members about how to check on each other to see if they are safe. The advice applies in any case for a week.

The Japanese capital was hit by a 5.3-magnitude earthquake this morning. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers in Kanagawa Prefecture, which borders Tokyo. The area is not on the Nankai Fault. According to Prime Minister Kishida, no major damage has been reported so far.