Japan's weather watchdog issued a rare "megaquake advisory" on Tuesday, after a 7.5-magnitude quake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori, south of Hokkaido. Although Monday's tremor only caused minor damage and injured 34 people, the advisory temporarily flags a higher risk of a far bigger seismic event occurring in the same area.

Officials underscored that the advisory is not a forecast, yet the probability of such a quake—a magnitude 8 or stronger—remains low, only about one percent. According to the Associated Press. Yet, the alert seeks to maximize preparedness for such tragedy, reminiscent of the catastrophic loss of nearly 20,000 lives back in 2011.

Why The Risk Is Higher

According to JMA, Monday's M7.5 quake has heightened seismic risks along the Hokkaido-Sanriku coast, a vital

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