Japan: 'Tokyo quake could register 7' - Government study

In the wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, the government has been urged to thoroughly check whether its disaster preparedness for the capital is sufficient, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun. The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry presents the new findings of an underground structure research, which evaluates at 7--the strongest on the Japanese seismic intensity scale--the projected magnitude of a quake earthquake Tokyo Bay could register.

In the worst-case scenario, 11,000 people would be killed and about 850,000 buildings would collapse or be burned down. Only structures meeting the current quake-resistance requirements are unlikely to collapse even in the event of a quake with an intensity of 7, which calls on the government to make social infrastructure and buildings resistant to earthquakes. The government also needs to take steps to prevent subway systems and low-lying coastal areas from being flooded in case of a destructive tsunami striking the Tokyo metropolitan area.