A stir was caused in Japan when the country’s Meteorological Agency mistakenly issued a warning about a 9.9-magnitude earthquake, triggering emergency alerts on millions of cell phones. The erroneous alert was retracted a few minutes later, with the relevant authorities publicly apologizing for the concern and disruption caused.
The incident occurred on Friday (October 16), when the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially announced that a massive 9.9-magnitude earthquake had been recorded near the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Chishima Islands.
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However, the initial estimate proved to be incorrect. Shortly thereafter, the agency issued a correction, clarifying that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9 and occurred shortly after noon near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, at a focal depth of approximately 160 kilometers.
The error that triggered the alert
According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the problem arose during the calculation of the epicenter’s location.
Specifically, the system relied on the incorrect assumption that the epicenter was approximately 680 kilometers farther from Japan than its actual location. This incorrect assumption affected the calculation of the earthquake’s magnitude, resulting in the issuance of a warning for a 9.9-magnitude earthquake.
Although the alert was corrected within a few minutes and no widespread panic was reported, the activation of the emergency system caused temporary disruptions to public transportation.
The Meteorological Agency’s Apology
Following the incident, the JMA issued a public apology, acknowledging the disruption caused by the erroneous warning.
“We sincerely apologize for the significant inconvenience and concern caused to the public,” agency official Shinya Tsukada told reporters.
The incident highlighted the importance of accuracy in automated earthquake early-warning systems, which in Japan serve as a key mechanism for protecting the population in the event of strong seismic activity.
Source: Proto Thema
