Japan earthquake are full of surprises, striking without warning. Still, all over the place, people are sharing messages that cause fear, even though no one truly knows when one will happen.
Fear is rising in Hong Kong as online posts spread false news about a powerful Japan earthquake soon hitting Japan. Because of these made-up claims, many people are holding back from booking trips. As a result, travel agencies and airlines are now facing a noticeable drop in business.
In the year 2024, Japan earthquake was visited by close to 2.7 million people coming from Hong Kong.
Uncertainty surrounds the timing of earthquakes, yet unsettling rumors have quickly reached many city residents. This has led to growing worry and fear throughout the community.
Misleading posts have recently circulated, referencing a 2021 manga. They claim it predicts a major natural disaster in July 2025 based on a dream the author supposedly had. It’s important to approach such claims with caution.
Posts suggest different dates for the predicted disaster. Meanwhile, a Facebook group claiming to foresee Japan earthquakes has gained over a quarter of a million members, mostly from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The group continues to grow in attention.
Frankie Chow, the head of CLS Holiday, a travel agency in Hong Kong, mentioned that the Japan earthquake prediction has greatly influenced their customers’ decisions. ‘We’ve seen a noticeable change in their preferences,’ he said.
During an interview with AFP, Chow mentioned that his company noticed a significant drop in travel inquiries to Japan earthquake. In March and April, they received 70-80% fewer requests compared to the previous year.
For Chow, this situation is unlike anything he’s faced before. ‘I’ve never come across something like this,’ he said, adding that he also runs Flyagain.la, a booking platform.
According to him, some travelers decided to adjust their plans, while others simply couldn’t bring themselves to go anywhere at all.
Japan earthquake frequently experiences mild to moderate earthquakes, but due to strict construction rules, even larger quakes cause very little damage.
Natural disasters have tested this nation’s strength time and again. Back in 2011, a powerful earthquake measuring 9.0 on the scale triggered a huge tsunami. This tragic event resulted in nearly 18,500 people losing their lives or going missing. Additionally, it caused serious damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant, leading to a major crisis. Despite such hardships, the country continues to rebuild and move forward.
Chow explained that Hong Kong hardly ever experiences earthquakes, but many people get worried because of incorrect information spreading around.
Danger Ahead: Huge Earthquake Expected
Tokyo’s Cabinet Office shared on X last month that science today can’t tell us the exact time or place an Japan earthquake might occur.
Speaking to AFP, a Cabinet Office spokesperson explained that the post on X was simply a routine way to share details when tremors are felt.
Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper posted the message in reaction to rumors and forecasts that began appearing online after a government committee released a new report in January about the chances of a massive earthquake happening.
Experts have indicated that the likelihood of a major Japan earthquake along the Nankai Trough, south of Japan, in the next three decades has slightly increased. Current estimates now place the probability between 75% and 82%, raising concerns about the region’s preparedness.
In March, the Cabinet Office released a revised report, warning that a powerful earthquake and tsunami in the Nankai Trough region could lead to 298,000 fatalities.
Although it was just a regular update of a 2014 estimate, the new figure seems to have increased fears among tourists.
A local media outlet, HK01, recently shared a YouTube video that has sparked attention. In the video, a feng shui expert urges viewers to avoid visiting Japan, and it has quickly gained over 100,000 views.
Living in Hong Kong, with a population of 7.5 million, Don Hon doesn’t fully trust the online claims. Still, he acknowledges that they have had some influence on him.
The 32-year-old social worker mentioned, I’ll treat it as a precaution and avoid making any specific travel plans to Japan.
If a friend asked him to visit Japan in July, Hon said he might propose going to a different location.
There’s no need to stress.
A local tourism official told AFP that Greater Bay Airlines, based in Hong Kong, has reduced flights to Tokushima, Japan.
She said, The company explained that demand has fallen sharply due to rumors of a major earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan earthquake this summer.
From May 12 to October 25, the airline will lower the number of weekly round-trip flights from three to two.
In addition, the airline is cutting down on its flights to Sendai, a city located in the northern Miyagi region. This change is part of a broader reduction in services.
Yoshihiro Murai, governor of Miyagi, assured travelers, saying, “There’s no need to be concerned,” and noted that the people of Japan are staying.
He stated last month, If baseless rumors on social media are hurting tourism, it could turn into a major issue.
The Japan National Tourism Organization reported that 208,400 visitors from Hong Kong came to Japan in March. This is almost 10% fewer than the number of people who visited during the same month last year.
They explained that fewer visitors came partly because Easter holidays started in mid-April this year, not March as usual.
Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours in Hong Kong, mentioned that there hasn’t been a significant drop in travelers to Japan.
He said that if the predictions don’t come true, people will quickly see that they were not correct.
