Chinese Embassy Urges Citizens in Japan to Strengthen Earthquake Preparedness

The Chinese Embassy in Japan has issued a renewed advisory urging Chinese nationals residing in or visiting Japan to enhance their earthquake preparedness measures, citing ongoing seismic risks and recent tremors in the region.

According to an important notice published on the embassy’s official website, the reminder follows a report warning of a potential Nankai Trough megaquake that could result in nearly 300,000 fatalities. The embassy emphasized that while the Japanese government has not commented on the assessment, the historical recurrence of major quakes along the Nankai Trough — occurring every 100 to 150 years, with the last in 1946 — presents a 70-80 percent probability of such an event within the next three decades.

The advisory specifically references a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the western end of the Nankai Trough in August of the previous year, which prompted Japanese authorities to issue a heightened alert for possible megaquake activity.

In response, the embassy urged Chinese citizens in Japan to:

• Gain knowledge of earthquake self-rescue techniques;
• Appropriately stockpile emergency supplies, including water, non-perishable food and first aid kits;
• Monitor earthquake developments, weather warnings, and disaster prevention information through television, internet, and radio;
• Follow official evacuation procedures and avoid high-risk zones such as coastal areas during alerts.

The guidance aligns with earlier warnings from Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan, including a joint statement by the Foreign Ministry and consulates in January 2026 advising against non-essential travel to Japan during the Spring Festival period due to deteriorating public safety, rising crime targeting foreign nationals, and increased seismic activity.

At that time, authorities noted that 49 air routes had suspended all flights in February 2026, reflecting growing concerns over travel safety. Airlines including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern subsequently extended flexible refund and rebooking policies for tickets issued before January 26, 2026, with travel dates between March 29 and October 24, 2026.

The embassy reiterated that individuals already in Japan should remain vigilant, comply with local emergency directives, and contact consular services immediately in case of distress.

As seismic monitoring continues across the region, the message from Beijing remains clear: preparedness saves lives, and proactive measures are essential for all foreign residents in earthquake-prone zones like Japan.