Geologists warn of another powerful quake in Japan

March 22nd, 2011 - 1:17 pm ICT by ANI  

Tokyo, Mar.22 (ANI): Geologists have warned that another earthquake could strike Japan as the one that struck the nation on March 11 had altered the earth’s surface.

The quake measuring nine on the Richter scale has put pressure on fault lines near Tokyo. According to experts, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake could hit the city.

The structure of the tectonic plates and fault lines around the city makes it unlikely that Tokyo would be hit by a quake anywhere near the intensity of the one 10 days ago, said Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey.

But because of the heavily populated capital and its surroundings, any strong tremor could be devastating.

“Even if you’ve got, let’s say, a 7.5, that would be serious,” the Daily Mail quoted Musson, as saying.

Japan is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines spanning the Pacific Basin. This makes Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active area and earthquakes are common there.

The country accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or more. (ANI)

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