“末日地震”谣言搅动日本，今夏酷暑飓风考验接踵而至

Core Viewpoint - A rumor about a catastrophic earthquake in Japan on July 5, 2025, caused significant public concern and impacted tourism, despite no such event occurring [1][3] Group 1: Rumor and Its Impact - The rumor originated from a manga published in 1999, predicting a devastating earthquake, leading to over 250,000 people watching live earthquake reports [1] - The economic loss due to the rumor is estimated at 560 billion yen (approximately 25.87 billion RMB) due to decreased tourism interest [1] Group 2: Official Responses - The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) held a press conference to clarify that the earthquake prediction was unfounded and emphasized the unpredictability of earthquakes [3][4] - Official statements from JMA and other institutions highlighted that the recent seismic activity in the Kagoshima area is unrelated to the rumors and is part of normal volcanic activity [3][4] Group 3: Seismic Activity and Predictions - Between June 21 and July 5, there were at least 1,329 small earthquakes in the Kagoshima region, with the largest being 5.5 magnitude [3] - JMA reported a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on July 6, with no tsunami risk, and reiterated that predicting earthquakes accurately remains a challenge [4][5] Group 4: Broader Natural Disaster Context - Japan faces ongoing threats from extreme weather events, including typhoons and heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change [5] - The government has assessed an 80% probability of an 8.0 magnitude earthquake occurring in the next 30 years, based on geological data [5] Group 5: Safety Measures - The Chinese Embassy in Japan advised citizens to be aware of natural disaster risks and to follow safety protocols during extreme weather [6]