Recently, a series of earthquakes near the waters of Hokkaido, Japan, have raised concerns among tourists and had a significant impact on the tourism industry.
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, at 2:51 on June 2 (Beijing time), a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the waters near Hokkaido, Japan, with a focal depth of 55 kilometers. Just two days ago, on May 31, the same area was hit by a magnitude 6.1 earthquake, with a maximum seismic intensity of degree 4 and a focal depth of 20 kilometers.
Adding to the anxiety is a widespread prophecy that a devastating earthquake will hit Japan on July 5, causing one – third of the country’s territory to disappear. Originating from Japanese cartoonist Ryuju Ryo, this prophecy has been shared over tens of millions of times on social media, with related videos amassing over 100 million views.
As a result, the reservation of trips to Japan has been stagnant since around February this year, and many foreign tourists have cancelled their plans. In response, the Japan Meteorological Agency reiterated on its official website that earthquake prediction with specific time and location is generally considered a rumor, as there is currently no scientific basis for such claims. Japanese government and experts have also been actively debunking the myth, but the impact on tourism has already taken hold.
This situation not only reflects the vulnerability of the tourism industry to natural disasters and rumors but also reminds travelers to stay rational and informed when making travel decisions. Japan, being located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to seismic activities, but the country has advanced earthquake – resistant technologies and disaster – preparedness measures. Travelers should rely on scientific information rather than unfounded prophecies when planning trips to earthquake – prone areas.
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