Is Japanese manga ‘megaquake’ possible on July 5 or have Hongkongers lost plot?

The plot of a Japanese manga has played a big role in fuelling online rumours about a “megaquake” striking Japan on Saturday, triggering fear among some Hongkongers and a decline in interest in trips to the country, a hugely popular destination for residents.

But are the claims made by the comic book artist, based on her dreams, possible? The Post has gathered expert opinions to debunk the speculation.

1. Why have concerns about megaquakes arisen?

The Japan Meteorological Agency last August issued its first-ever “megaquake advisory”, saying that there was a 70 to 80 per cent chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 earthquake connected to the Nankai Trough occurring within the next 30 years.

It issued the advisory after warning that a magnitude 7.1 quake that struck Japan on the western edge of the trough earlier that month raised the likelihood of a strong one.

The trough is an 800km (500-mile) undersea trench running from Shizuoka, west of Tokyo, to the southern tip of Kyushu Island and sits where two tectonic plates meet.

This April, the Japanese government estimated that up to 298,000 people could die if a megaquake of about magnitude 9 occurred along the trough.