Key Facts
• South Korean expert Hong Tae-kyung highlights potential reality of ‘Nankai Trough Earthquake.’
• Originates from Tatsuki Ryo’s 1999 manga, revised in 2021, predicting a 2025 disaster.
• Manga describes a July 5, 2025, undersea eruption near Japan and the Philippines.
• Predicted tsunami could be three times larger than the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
• Hong notes a 30-year earthquake probability in the Nankai Trough rose from 50% to 80%.
• Worst-case scenario: magnitude 9.0 earthquake, causing $1.8 trillion in damages and 300,000 deaths.
• Japan’s government anticipates 2.35 million buildings destroyed in such an event.
• South Korea could experience 30 cm tremors; government preparing countermeasures.
• Historical patterns suggest magnitude 7.8–8.2 earthquakes occur every 100–150 years near Kyushu.
• Experts warn of a chain reaction from Nankai to Tokyo, amplifying disaster risks.
Summary
South Korean seismologist Hong Tae-kyung has drawn attention to the ‘Nankai Trough Earthquake’ theory, which gained traction from Tatsuki Ryo’s manga predicting a July 5, 2025, disaster. The manga describes an undersea eruption near Japan and the Philippines, triggering a tsunami three times larger than the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Hong emphasized the increasing likelihood of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough, with probabilities rising from 50% to 80% over 30 years. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake could result in $1.8 trillion in damages, 300,000 deaths, and 2.35 million destroyed buildings in Japan. South Korea, too, could face significant tremors, prompting government preparations. Historical data and expert analysis suggest the possibility of a catastrophic chain reaction from Nankai to Tokyo, underscoring the urgency of disaster readiness.
