Panic Buying in Japan Amid Megaquake Fears: Authorities Appeal for Calm

The Japanese authorities are facing a new challenge as the fear of an impending megaquake has driven the populace into a frenzy of panic buying. This behavior was induced by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the southern region of Japan on Thursday, wounding 14 people. In response to this and the increased chances of a significant seismic event, the weather agency issued a rare advisory urging citizens to avoid stockpiling necessities.

Consequently, Tokyo supermarkets experienced a shortage of products, notably bottled water which has now become rationed due to concerns over unstable procurement. The situation is also reflected online, with the giant e-commerce platform Rakuten reporting a surge in sales of disaster kits, portable toilets, preserved food, and water.

Many Tokyo residents, like bar employee Kokoro Takeuchi, are taking steps to ramp up their preparations for a disaster. Others, like Mika Nakagawa, prefer to focus less on the potential threat even though they acknowledge its severity.

The advisory concentrates on the Nankai Trough subduction zone, a notorious site for historical magnitude eight or nine earthquakes. Although the government has signaled a 70% likelihood of a significant quake occurring in the next 30 years, experts maintain that the current risk level is marginal. Following this line, the ministry of agriculture and fisheries has asked the public to abstain from unnecessary hoarding of goods.

Adding to the concern was a magnitude-5.3 tremor that struck the Kanagawa region near Tokyo on Friday, intensifying anxiety but was later reported to be unrelated to the Nankai Trough activity.

Despite the already high tension, the situation is exacerbated by spam posts on social media platforms taking advantage of public fear, often leading users to pornography or commercial websites instead of providing helpful information. This has made it difficult for individuals to find trustworthy guidance on earthquake preparedness. It is a reminder of the challenges that misinformation poses, particularly in times of crisis.

Notably, Japan is accustomed to earthquakes, with its location atop four significant tectonic plates leading to approximately 1,500 quakes annually. Nonetheless, the government emphasizes preparedness due to the potential impacts demonstrated by previous events like the January 1 quake on the Noto Peninsula, which tragically claimed 318 lives.