A note from the Kumamoto International Dirt Desk (just follow the trail): Geologists have been poking around sections of the Hinagu fault (below, 日奈久) and the Futagawa fault (above, 布田川) to study their histories. The blue lines indicate the sections ruptured in the quakes; the red, those not yet ruptured.
They found that at least five large quakes (meaning >M7) had occurred over the last 28,000 years on these unruptured portions, and concluded, “A recurrence of a quake of similar magnitude in the near future is not inconceivable.” But then, “near future” in geological terms is quite different from that which we mortals may experience. Still: Notice the Futagawa fault runs directly under the city, and that Yatsushiro exists mostly on landfill, susceptible to liquefaction.
The point being, don’t let your guard down. - William
