These are computer-generated images in two videos released by the Japanese government this week to prepare its citizens for a major earthquake that could strike Tokyo or Osaka “at any time”. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. About 20 percent of all quakes of magnitude 6 or greater occur around Japan. Such an incident would cause economic damage of 95 trillion yen (US$ 950 billion), or roughly the equivalent of the national budget. A second video simulates a magnitude 9 quake off Japan's western and central coast, similar in power to the 2011 quake that unleashed a tsunami on northeastern Japan.

Source: Sunday Times September 29, 2016 11:58 UTC