Japan Quake

"A Japan earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale struck off the Tokara Islands on

Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported. The tremor occurred at 3:26 pm local time, about 10 km below the sea surface, and shook Toshima village with a seismic intensity of Lower five on Japan’s 7-point scale. Elsewhere in Kagoshima Prefecture, shaking was felt at level 3 or higher. Wednesday’s quake comes as Japan rolls out an updated plan to brace for a potential megaquake along the Nankai Trough. Experts now say a 75–82% chance of a major quake (magnitude 8–9) in the next 30 years. Updated government projections estimate up to 298,000 fatalities and economic losses reaching ¥270 trillion (US$1.8 trillion)." msn