Many people canceled their travel plans after the earthquake in Japan

The major earthquake alert issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) last week had a major impact on people’s travel plans, with many tourists canceling their hotel reservations. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an unprecedented warning after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu last Thursday. According to the agency, the probability of a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough is higher than usual. People are asked to check their daily earthquake preparedness and remain vigilant throughout the week. Although officials have not observed any irregular changes in the earth’s crust, Expected shakingthis warning is still valid.

People are afraid to travel after the major earthquake warning is issued

On Friday, a day after the alert was issued, Sansuien, a ryokan in Kochi Prefecture, reported about 450 guest cancellations. The 71st Yosakoi festival kicked off in the prefecture that day, with four teams out of 188. In the coastal town of Shimoda in Shizuoka Prefecture, the number of hotel and ryokan cancellations in the past few days has exceeded 550. Beaches in Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture and Nichinan in Miyazaki Prefecture have also been closed. Japan Railways, meanwhile, is offering refunds or rescheduled tickets at no extra charge to anyone with a reservation on or after Aug. 8.

False information spread on social media

Since the earthquake struck last Thursday, multiple posts have appeared on social media warning people that a major earthquake will occur on specific dates. These dates appear to have been made up out of thin air. There are also many pictures of so-called “earthquake clouds” that are said to appear before an earthquake. However, there is no scientific basis for such claims. “The clouds cannot be a precursor to an earthquake,” wrote Kentaro Araki, a senior researcher at the Meteorological Research Institute of the Japan Meteorological Agency, on X. “The government will continue to release accurate information,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference last Friday. He added: “I hope people will not be misled by uncertain information, and that they will help each other take action.”

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