Japan Unveils New Earthquake Safety Plan Amid Nankai Trough Threat
Japan Approves New Disaster Safety Plan to Save Lives
Japan has approved a new disaster safety plan during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence on Tuesday.
Big Goals for the Next 10 Years
The updated plan aims to:
Reduce deaths by 80%
Cut building damage by 50%
These same goals were set back in 2014, but were not achieved because of slow progress. The government has now promised again to meet these goals, focusing on saving lives.
Big Earthquake Risk
In March 2025, Japan warned that a huge earthquake in the Nankai Trough area (magnitude 9) could:
Kill up to 298,000 people
Damage to around 2.35 million buildings
What’s in the New Plan?
The plan includes many important steps, such as:
Strengthening old houses in high-risk areas
Building safe centres to move people during tsunamis
Checking progress every year with help from experts
Expanding special safety zones to 723 towns in 30 areas
Making risk checks and safety drills mandatory by 2030
Prime Minister’s Message
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said everyone—government, cities, businesses, and NGOs—must work together to protect lives.
More Measures
The plan also asks for:
Better shelters
Emergency supply storage
Public awareness campaigns
Need for More Awareness
Experts say that while buildings are stronger now, many people are less alert. Communities must stay prepared.
The Nankai Trough earthquake is one of the biggest threats to Japan, with a 70–80% chance of happening in the next 30 years. This new plan shows Japan’s serious effort to protect its people and buildings from future disasters.
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