Japan's chief meteorologist calls rumors of a July earthquake a hoax and urges people not to worry
The head of Japan 's meteorological agency on Friday dismissed widespread rumors of a major earthquake in Japan this summer as unscientific and a 'hoax," urging people not to worry because even the most advanced science still cannot predict any quake or tsunami.
'At the moment, it is still impossible to predict an earthquake with specific timing, location or its magnitude,' Japan Meteorological Agency Director General Ryoichi Nomura told reporters. 'Any such prediction is a hoax, and there is absolutely no need to worry about such disinformation."
Nomura was referring to rumors in Hong Kong and other Asian cities of a major earthquake or a tsunami in July in Japan have led to flight cancellations and reductions in service, affecting tourism.
He said it was 'unfortunate' that many people are affected by the disinformation, though he sympathized with the sense of unease that the people tend to develop toward something invisible.
The rumor originates from a 2022 Japanese comic book 'The future I saw,' which features a dream foreseeing a tsunami and is also available in Chinese. The chatter began spreading earlier this year through social media, mainly in Hong Kong.
The author previously gained attention for allegedly predicting the 2011 quake and tsunami in northern Japan, which killed more than 18,000 people.
Japan, which sits on the Pacific 'ring of fire,' is one of the world's most quake-prone countries.
Last summer, a panel of seismologists noted a slight increase in the probability of a megaquake on Japan's Pacific coasts. The government organized an awareness-raising week but only triggered panic buying, beach closures and other overreactions and complaints.
While it is important to inform people about the science, Nomura said, it is also necessary for everyone in this quake-prone country to take early precautions.
'In Japan, an earthquake can occur anytime, anywhere,' Nomura said. 'So I ask everyone to take this opportunity to ensure your preparedness for a major quake.'
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The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Japan's chief meteorologist calls rumors of a July earthquake a hoax and urges people not to worry
The head of Japan 's meteorological agency on Friday dismissed widespread rumors of a major earthquake in Japan this summer as unscientific and a 'hoax," urging people not to worry because even the most advanced science still cannot predict any quake or tsunami. 'At the moment, it is still impossible to predict an earthquake with specific timing, location or its magnitude,' Japan Meteorological Agency Director General Ryoichi Nomura told reporters. 'Any such prediction is a hoax, and there is absolutely no need to worry about such disinformation." Nomura was referring to rumors in Hong Kong and other Asian cities of a major earthquake or a tsunami in July in Japan have led to flight cancellations and reductions in service, affecting tourism. He said it was 'unfortunate' that many people are affected by the disinformation, though he sympathized with the sense of unease that the people tend to develop toward something invisible. The rumor originates from a 2022 Japanese comic book 'The future I saw,' which features a dream foreseeing a tsunami and is also available in Chinese. The chatter began spreading earlier this year through social media, mainly in Hong Kong. The author previously gained attention for allegedly predicting the 2011 quake and tsunami in northern Japan, which killed more than 18,000 people. Japan, which sits on the Pacific 'ring of fire,' is one of the world's most quake-prone countries. Last summer, a panel of seismologists noted a slight increase in the probability of a megaquake on Japan's Pacific coasts. The government organized an awareness-raising week but only triggered panic buying, beach closures and other overreactions and complaints. While it is important to inform people about the science, Nomura said, it is also necessary for everyone in this quake-prone country to take early precautions. 'In Japan, an earthquake can occur anytime, anywhere,' Nomura said. 'So I ask everyone to take this opportunity to ensure your preparedness for a major quake.'
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
From souvenir stamps to different surnames: Five ways your passport could stop you boarding your flight
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However, don't be tempted to put the stamps in your actual passport, and instead ask for them on a piece of paper instead. One woman said she was stopped from entering Thailand after getting a stamp in Machu Picchu. Another was banned from her flight to the US because of a Hello Kitty stamp in Taiwan. Someone person on Reddit said they struggled to get a visa for India because of a novelty stamp, while another said they were banned from entering Malaysia for similar reasons. While some places might not might the stamps, it is best not to risk putting them in your passport. Brit yoga teacher stranded in Thailand & barred from return flight over 'tiny' passport problem…would YOU have noticed? 5 Different surnames to your kids If you are going on holiday with any kids that don't share your last name, you could run into problems at the border. Strict anti-trafficking rules mean that border staff are required to ask for any documents that prove they are related to you, or you have permission to take them out of the country. For example, if they are your children but you do not share their surname, you will need something like a marriage certificate alongside your passport. Mum Eddi Fiegel was nearly banned from boarding their Eurostar home with their daughter from Disneyland Paris, as she was not married to her partner - so had a different surname to her. And a family missed their Christmas holiday to South Africa because their son had a different name to the mum, and the dad wasn't travelling with them. An alternative option is a consent letter, sharing permission from their legal guardian although this may not be accepted in all countries. Any minor damage (depending on country) When it comes to damaged passports, the UK government cite the following as damage: you cannot read any of your details any pages are ripped, cut or missing holes, cuts or rips in the cover cover coming away stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage) Any passport that falls under these rules will need to be replaced. However, some countries have much stricter rules when it comes to what a damaged passport is. Indonesia is known for having some of the world's most restrictive rules with a number of travellers banned from travelling to Bali. One man said there was a "minuscule tear on the photo page, barely visible to the naked eye" while another person was told it was "too dirty" to be allowed. Any tiny tears or spills on a passport is likely to get you banned from a holiday to Bali. Vietnam is also just as strict, with the UK Foreign Office warning: "Your passport must have no damage. "British nationals have been denied entry and exit due to passport damage." 5 Incorrect expiry date One of the most common mistakes thousands of Brits are still making is having the correct expiry date on their passports. Pre-Brexit rules allowed UK passports to have a validity of 10 years and nine months (rolling over unused months from the previous passport). This is no longer allowed, so any extra months are no longer seen as valid. This is only affecting Brits with a burgundy passport, as the new navy passports only have a 10-year validity. If you have a different start date to an expiry date, you might run into trouble, so make sure to add 10 years to your start date to find your correct expiry. You will also need a few extra months on it depending which country you are travelling to. 5 Not enough blank pages If you are a frequent traveller, you might find your passport is getting a bit full. But most countries require at least one page to be fully blank, to leave space for an entry and exit stamp. For Europe, every country requires one full page, while countries including Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Netherlands and Portugal require two pages. One person on Reddit said they were told to get a new passport as they only had "three [blank] pages scattered about," while another said they had to get an emergency passport in Bangkok after needing a full blank page to go to Laos. One of the strictest is South Africa, which requires three blank pages. Standard passports have 34 pages, so you might want to pay extra for a 54-page passport if you plan on travelling a lot. Or you can try the sneaky trick, where passengers put a blank post it note on a page so border officers don't use it to stamp. 5
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Earthquakes damage centuries-old monasteries in a secluded religious community in Greece
Centuries-old monasteries have been damaged by an ongoing series of earthquakes in a secluded monastic community in northern Greece, authorities said Friday. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck the Mount Athos peninsula on June 7, followed by a series of both undersea and land-based tremors that continued through Friday. The quakes caused 'severe cracks' in the dome of the Monastery of Xenophon, which was built in the late 10th century, and damaged religious frescoes at that site and several others, the Culture Ministry said. Mount Athos is one of the most important religious sites for Orthodox Christians, and is often referred to as the Holy Mountain. It is a semi-autonomous monastic republic and is home to 20 Orthodox monasteries. The self-governing community still observes strict traditions under Greek sovereignty, including a ban on all women entering the territory. 'We are fully aware of the immense archaeological, historical, and spiritual significance of Mount Athos, and we are ensuring that all damage is addressed according to scientific and ethical standards,' Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said. The restoration work — including structural reinforcement and the repair of artwork — will be expanded and accelerated, Mendoni added. A more detailed assessment of the damage is expected next week, the Culture Ministry said.
