Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, has decided to cancel his scheduled visit to central Asia following warnings from experts about the increased risk of a "megaquake" off the country's Pacific coast. This decision comes in the midst of Kishida's challenges to maintain approval ratings and leadership within his ruling party.

Originally, Kishida was set to hold a summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Friday evening. Additionally, he had planned to meet the Mongolian president in Ulaanbaatar on Monday. However, concerns regarding the recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake in southwest Japan have prompted Kishida to prioritize preparations for any potential natural disasters.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first-ever warning about the possibility of a massive earthquake along the Pacific coast, following the recent seismic activity on the southernmost main island of Kyushu. Although no casualties or significant damage have been reported so far, the agency's warning has raised alarm within the nation.

The advisory specifically focuses on the Nankai Trough, an 800-kilometer (500-mile) undersea area between tectonic plates in the Pacific Ocean. This region is infamous for experiencing destructive "megathrust quakes" every 100 to 200 years, often accompanied by powerful tsunamis. The last catastrophic event occurred in 1707, and the second-most powerful earthquake on record devastated the northeast coast in March 2011, triggering a devastating tsunami and nuclear meltdown.

While the meteorological agency's advisory does not predict the timing of an earthquake, government experts estimate a 70% to 80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 megaquake striking the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years. Such an event could potentially cause the loss of 300,000 lives and result in a financial burden of up to $13 trillion.

Geologists Kyle Bradley and Judith A. Hubbard reassured the public that although the history of great earthquakes in the Nankai region is concerning, there is no need to panic. They emphasized the low probability of the recent earthquake being a foreshock, and that even when the risk of a second earthquake is elevated, the overall probability remains low.

In light of these warnings and the potential dangers, Prime Minister Kishida has made the decision to prioritize his responsibilities within the nation and cancelled his overseas trip. By doing so, he aims to ensure effective preparations and response measures are in place for any eventuality stemming from the increased seismic risk along Japan's Pacific coast.

The government continues to closely monitor the situation and encourages the public to remain vigilant and prepared for potential earthquakes and tsunamis.