Get ready for a journey into one of Earth’s most terrifying possibilities. Scientists warn that Japan could face a megaquake unlike anything in recent memory, and the aftermath might include a massive tsunami sweeping across the coast. Imagine the sheer power of nature, reshaping landscapes and testing human resilience in real time. In this video, we break down what could happen, why it matters, and how scientists are preparing for the worst. You’ll see the facts, projections, and chilling simulations that make this scenario all too real. Don’t miss it—knowledge is power, and understanding these risks could save lives. Credit: Tsunami: Race Against Time / Blast! Films CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/: Tectonic plates: By M.Bitton - https://phys.org/news/2022-06-global-geological-provinces-tectonic-plates.html, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tectonic_plates_(2022).svg Animation is created by Bright Side.
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00:00Not an earthquake, but a mega-earthquake could happen in Japan.
00:05It's scarier, bigger, and more destructive than ordinary tremors.
00:09However, the problem is that it will occur underwater,
00:13which means it will trigger a giant tsunami 100 feet high.
00:18A column of water nearly as high as a 10-story building will collapse on coastal cities,
00:23wiping out hundreds of houses.
00:25The water flow can destroy everything in its path like a bowling ball that knocks down pins.
00:31And then another wave may come.
00:33And another one.
00:35Anyone who is at risk should be on their guard.
00:38How to survive?
00:39You'll find out later in this video.
00:41But first, let's find out what a mega-earthquake is.
00:47This is an earthquake with a magnitude 9 or more.
00:51This is a very rare phenomenon, and it depends not on the power of the shock,
00:56but on the length of the fault where it occurs.
00:59The longer the fault, the stronger the earthquake.
01:02But what are these faults?
01:04These are cracks in the rocks of the Earth's crust that move relative to each other.
01:09Imagine a large puzzle where every detail is a giant tectonic plate.
01:14When one part of the puzzle moves away from another or when they collide,
01:18that's when earthquakes begin.
01:20If the fault between the parts is long,
01:22then the magnitude of the earthquake is great.
01:26The largest mega-earthquake ever recorded occurred on May 22, 1960, in Chile.
01:32The fault was almost 1,000 miles long.
01:36It's almost half the way between Chicago and Los Angeles.
01:40And now, a similar mega-earthquake can happen, underwater.
01:46That's how it all started.
01:47Last year, on August 8, at 4.42 p.m., an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred in southern Japan.
01:57The tremors appeared off the coast of the mainland island of Kyushu.
02:01Everyone was terrified as they expected a large tsunami to appear.
02:05But, fortunately, they faced only a small wave.
02:09It collapsed on the shore, but didn't destroy buildings.
02:11About 15 people got hurt, which is sad, of course.
02:15But it could have been worse.
02:17It seemed that the disaster had passed.
02:20The residents breathed a sigh of relief.
02:23However, after that, the Japan Meteorological Agency sent a warning about a possible mega-earthquake that could be incredibly devastating.
02:31A previous earthquake of 7.1 magnitude could be a harbinger of an impending catastrophe.
02:38A disaster that could affect a quarter of a million people.
02:42As soon as people heard this, they ran to buy groceries.
02:45Increased demand and a slight panic led to shortages of rice and several other basic products.
02:51People were stocking up on food and preparing for the worst.
02:54But, a week later, the Japan Meteorological Agency cancelled the warning.
02:59It turned out that the small tsunami on Kyushu Island was not a harbinger.
03:06No one knows whether a mega-earthquake and tsunami will happen in this region.
03:11But the chances are very high.
03:13To understand the nature of this danger, we need to dive underwater in a place called the Nankai Trough.
03:19It is a 500-mile-long underwater fault that runs almost parallel to the Pacific coast of Japan.
03:27This is where the two giant sections of the Earth's crust meet.
03:30The Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
03:33And the Philippine Plate is subducting and slowly slipping under the Eurasian Plate,
03:38on which Japan is partly located.
03:41During this movement, the plates get stuck, accumulating energy.
03:44Afterward, when they move and align again, they release a powerful burst of energy.
03:50And this energy is capable of causing one of the most powerful earthquakes in the world.
03:55Experts report that the probability of a mega-earthquake and a tsunami is about 80%.
04:01Over the past 1,400 years, mega-earthquakes have occurred every 100 to 200 years in this region.
04:09The last time this happened in Japan was in 1946.
04:12The entire country felt a powerful tremor that destroyed 36,000 houses in the southern part of Honshu Island.
04:21Every year, the probability of a repeat of this disaster increases by 1%.
04:25And do you know how many years have passed?
04:2879!
04:30According to experts, a mega-earthquake with a magnitude of 8 to 9 can trigger a tsunami that will flood small islands off the coast of Japan.
04:38And areas with large populations on the islands of Honshu and Shikoshu can be flooded in minutes.
04:46Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk.
04:48It can be billions and even trillions of dollars worth of damage.
04:52According to some reports, about 530,000 people may lose their homes.
04:57To save lives, the country needs to carry out a large-scale evacuation.
05:01But the problem is that no one knows the exact date.
05:05In general, no one in the world can predict in advance when the next big earthquake will occur.
05:11In the case of the Nankai Trough, it can happen in a few days, or a few years, or even centuries.
05:17So, what should people do?
05:20Prepare.
05:20Japan has been experiencing earthquakes for a long time, so the country has learned to survive a disaster with minimal losses.
05:30Almost every building in Japan is equipped with dampers, which are devices that suppress any vibrations and make houses more resistant to shaking.
05:38In addition, on the shores of Japan, residents have built long and high shields that don't allow powerful waves to break through to land.
05:48Japan also has an advanced earthquake warning system.
05:51It's impossible to predict powerful seismic activity in a few days or weeks,
05:56but it's possible to detect small tremors that may portend an impending earthquake.
06:01Special devices monitor seismic signals and transmit the data to certain programs.
06:07Then, they evaluate the magnitude and intensity of the tremors and send warnings to people's phones.
06:13This can save seconds and even minutes for locals to reach the nearest shelter in time.
06:19These systems are also used to slow down the speed of trains, to stop work at factories, hospitals, and office buildings.
06:25It's much safer for a train driver to slow down during an earthquake than to rush forward at full speed.
06:32But what if you're on the street and you can't hear your phone messages?
06:35How to act in case of disaster?
06:38This applies not only to Japan, but also to any place where a tsunami or earthquake may occur.
06:44To survive a tsunami, you need to prepare for it long before a big wave hits.
06:52It's very important to have good relations with neighbors.
06:54Be friendly with them, help them, and treat them well.
06:58In times of trouble or disaster, it's great to have people with whom you have a good relationship.
07:02They can help you get out of a difficult situation, and you can also help them.
07:07Be kind and compassionate to people.
07:09This way, it's much easier to survive any disaster.
07:13Prepare a backpack with necessities in advance.
07:16These are a first aid kit, canned food, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, and bottled water.
07:23All this will not only save your life, but will also help other people in trouble.
07:27So, if you feel an earthquake start, immediately run for cover.
07:32If you're at home, try to stand against a wall closest to the center of the building,
07:36or crawl under heavy furniture that stands firmly on the floor, such as a desk or a regular table.
07:43Stay away from windows and front doors, and never use an elevator.
07:46If you're on the street, don't come close to power lines and any objects that may fall.
07:53During a tsunami, you may need to get as high as possible to avoid getting swallowed by water.
07:58Stay as far away from the shore as you can, and don't go down until you're sure it's safe.
08:04But how can you find out about an approaching wave if you haven't received the warning?
08:12When a tsunami approaches the shore, you will hear a roar similar to the rumble of a passing train or plane.
08:18If there's no elevation nearby, then try to get to the upper floors.
08:22It must be at least the third floor, but it has to be a building that can resist a tsunami, such as a massive house made of concrete.
08:30If there are no such high buildings nearby, try to climb a massive tree.
08:35When the disaster is over, look around and find those you can help.
08:40Listen to messages from rescuers via radio or TV.
08:42If all is well, then you can deal with the consequences.
08:47Yes, there's a lot of work ahead, but you've survived and helped others survive.
08:52And that's the most important thing.
08:57That's it for today.
08:58So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.
09:03Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the bright side.
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