Last Updated:July 04, 2025, 21:24 IST
Japan’s Tokara Islands were hit by a 5.5 magnitude earthquake on July 3. (Photo Credit: X)
A decades-old manga prediction claiming that Japan would face a catastrophic disaster on July 5 has been sparking anxiety all over Asia. People have been cancelling travel plans to Japan after widespread speculation that a massive disaster, possibly an earthquake or tsunami, would hit the country on July 5.
The prediction is based on a 2021 manga called “The Future I Saw” by Ryo Tatsuki, also known as “Japan’s Baba Vanga,” who even predicted the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami.
Now, a chilling twist has added fuel to the panic after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Tokara Islands on July 3, just two days before the predicted doomsday.
In the manga, she mentioned that a crack would open under the sea between Japan and the Philippines, and that would cause huge waves, which would be three times bigger than the deadly tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. Now, scientists have discovered something similar happening underground in that exact region.
According to a recent study, slow-slip earthquakes are occurring in the Nankai Trough, a region where two tectonic plates are gradually moving beneath one another. Even though these are tiny, silent tremors that occur deep beneath, they might be an early warning of a bigger earthquake in the future.
In the Nankai Trough, Japan has experienced a “megaquake” every 100 to 200 years during the past 1,400 years. The latest one occurred in 1946 and was measured at a Richter Scale magnitude of between 8.1 and 8.4.
In 2011, an underwater megathrust earthquake with a Richter Scale value of 9 to 9.1 also rocked Japan. In addition, the 2011 tragedy was the strongest earthquake Japan has ever experienced.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or higher is now 82 per cent likely to occur in the Nankai Trough in the next 30 years, according to a government panel. It is an increase over the earlier estimate of 75 per cent. According to the Earthquake Research Committee of Japan, such an earthquake may kill up to 2,98,000 people and create up to $2 trillion in damage.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
July 04, 2025, 08:00 IST
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