Japan’s ‘mega-quake’ that never was, and the danger of false alarms
Kanako Hosomura recalls the panic when an erroneous magnitude 9.9 earthquake alert sounded on phones in Yokohama.
Quick Look
Kanako Hosomura and others rushed out of a clothing store in Yokohama after receiving a rare phone alert warning of an imminent magnitude 9.9 earthquake.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Japan utilizes an advanced earthquake early warning system to notify citizens of major seismic activity.
Kanako Hosomura was working in a clothing store in Yokohama when an alert on her phone warned of an imminent magnitude 9.9 earthquake.
“We all rushed outside,” Hosomura said, recalling how people poured out of nearby shops and offices to watch tall buildings and power lines for signs of shaking.
“These alarms do not go off very often – only maybe a couple of times a year – so when they do sound, everyone is worried that the quake is going to be really big,” Hosomura said.
Open Questions
- What caused the erroneous magnitude 9.9 earthquake alert?
