[Shocking!] The Impact of the Nankai Trough Earthquake Isn’t Limited to Japan!
If a massive Nankai Trough earthquake were to occur, Japan would suffer the most severe damage.
However, the impact would not be limited to Japan; tsunami waves could also reach the coastal areas of South Korea and China.
According to the latest research, tsunami heights along the southern coast of South Korea are estimated to range from several tens of centimeters to about 0.6 meters, raising concerns primarily about impacts on ports, fishing harbors, and vessels.
Tsunamis are also expected to reach the Chinese coast, with heights projected to range from several tens of centimeters to 1–3 meters in many areas (with some coastal regions potentially facing waves several meters high).
On the other hand, it has been pointed out that in some coastal areas of China, depending on topographical conditions and the magnitude of the anticipated earthquake, the tsunami could be even larger.
Furthermore, along the coast from the Korean Peninsula to mainland China, high-rise buildings could collapse due to long-period seismic motion.
In other words,
while it is true that “the Nankai Trough mega-earthquake is not just a problem for Japan,”
the claim that “South Korea and China will suffer catastrophic damage on the same scale as Japan”
is not accurate at this point..........
To be precise,
research results released by universities and research institutions in South Korea and China indicate that the most accurate understanding is that Japan will be the epicenter of the damage, and that neighboring countries may also be affected, primarily by tsunamis.
[References]
・Cabinet Office: Damage Estimates for the Nankai Trough Mega-Earthquake
・Kim et al. (2016), Earth, Planets and Space
・Jho et al. (2025), Journal of the Korean Water Resources Association
・Hou et al. (2014), Tsunami Hazard Study in the East China Sea
teeFive Project Co., Ltd.
Disaster Mitigation Mathematical Sciences Research Department