Today, Japan’s Ryukyu archipelago was shaken by a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter 28 kilometers deep, south of Kagoshima city on Kyushu island. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) confirmed the quake struck in the East China Sea, but so far, no damage or casualties have been reported. Japan isn’t new to earthquakes, but every tremor reminds us how precariously the country sits on the edge of natural disaster. For comparison, on July 2, Montenegro experienced a weaker 3.3 magnitude quake that caused no damage, and on July 4, a 3.8 magnitude quake hit the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. Though smaller, these quakes remind us seismic activity is everywhere. Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active countries, constantly faces these threats. Are we really ready for the next big one? Or will we be caught off guard again? While we wait for answers, maybe it’s time to ask how seriously we take nature and its forces. What do you think — is Japan prepared, or is this just the calm before a much worse storm? Drop a comment, maybe together we’ll figure out what’s coming!
