The Kego Fault Zone running through central Fukuoka is again in focus after prefectural damage estimates outlined a worst-case earthquake scenario. According to the estimates, a quake along the fault could reach the maximum seismic intensity of 7 and cause heavy human and social losses in the area.
The projected impact is severe: 1,800 deaths, another 800 disaster-related deaths, and about 319,000 evacuees. Those figures underline how strongly a major earthquake on the Kego Fault Zone could affect residents, infrastructure and daily life in central Fukuoka.
Experts are also warning about the risk tied to an unruptured segment of the fault zone. The concern is that a section that has not yet broken could still generate a powerful earthquake, adding to fears that the threat has not been fully reduced.
The latest estimates highlight the scale of the potential disaster facing Fukuoka and the importance of preparedness planning. With the Kego Fault Zone passing through a densely populated urban area, the combination of strong shaking, casualties and mass displacement remains a major concern.
