Japan Retracts Erroneous Magnitude 9.9 Earthquake Alert, Disrupting Transport

Japan's meteorological agency on October 17 retracted an earthquake alert for a magnitude 9.9 quake after determining the information had been issued in error.

According to Kyodo News, the incident saw the warning system send out a message about an earthquake of a magnitude never before recorded, raising public alarm before it was corrected.

The erroneous alert also led to disruptions to transport operations in some areas, as operators had to temporarily carry out checks and adjust schedules to ensure safety.

Authorities have not yet released details on what caused the error, but the incident has raised concerns about the reliability of the earthquake early warning system, which plays a vital role in a country that frequently experiences seismic activity.