Next big quake could hit Tokyo within 4 years, researchers say
Tokyo - The risk of an earthquake of magnitude 7 or above striking the Tokyo metropolitan area within the next four years could be as high as 70 pNaoshi Hirata, of the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute, said the risk may have increased
At the current pace of activity, there was a 70-per-cent chance of a quake of magnitude 7 or more in the next four years, they said.
An earlier estimate by the government's headquarters for earthquake research said the region only had that probability of suffering such a large earthquake over the next 30 years, based on the intervals between large quakes in the past, Kyodo News reported.
More than 19,100 people were killed or missing after the March quake and resulting tsunami struck north-eastern Japan.
The twin natural disasters also triggered the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 250 kilometres north-east of Tokyo, leading to meltdowns at three of its six reactors.
The closest nuclear plant to the capital is Tokai No 2 Power Station, 120 kilometres to the north-east.//DPA
