Japanese weather agency says Saturday's earthquake not connected with viral prediction
Tokyo, July 5 (IANS) A preliminary magnitude 5.4 earthquake that rattled islands in southwestern Japan on Saturday had no link to a disaster prediction made by the comic book (Manga) author that had gone viral on social media, Japan's weather agency has confirmed.
It was circulating on social media that Japan will experience a major disaster in July – particularly on a Saturday - following a prediction made in "The Future I Saw", a manga authored by Japanese artist Ryo Tatsuki, local media reported.
Addressing a press conference in Tokyo, an official of the Japan Meteorological Agency, Ayataka Ebita, said current science cannot accurately predict earthquakes, and any event that seems to align with the manga author's prediction is purely coincidental.
"It is absolutely a coincidence. There is no causal connection. In Japan, earthquakes can happen at any time. Please be prepared always," said Ebita.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake hit the Tokara island chain early Saturday morning at a depth of about 19 kilometres, adding that no tsunami warning was issued.
