Japan issues 'higher than usual' megaquake risk warning

Japan has for the first time issued an advisory warning of a higher than usual risk of a major earthquake in the near future, telling people to stay alert but not evacuate. The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued the advisory on Thursday night local time, hours after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake off the southern island of Kyushu that reportedly caused no major damage. The epicentre sat at the edge of the Nankai Trough, where Kyodo News reports experts see a 70% to 80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake in the next 30 years. Official Shinya Tsukada said the advisory does not mean a quake is definitely coming within a set period.