11-8-2024 (TOKYO) In the wake of a recent “megaquake” advisory, Japanese authorities are grappling with widespread panic buying that has led to shortages of essential goods across the country. Officials are now urging the public to refrain from hoarding emergency supplies, as the rush to stockpile has left many stores struggling to meet demand.
The surge in purchases began following the Japan Meteorological Agency’s unprecedented advisory on Thursday, warning of an elevated risk of a massive earthquake originating from the Nankai Trough in the Pacific. This announcement, coupled with a series of significant seismic events in quick succession, has heightened anxiety among the population and triggered a frenzied response in consumer behaviour.
Online retail giants Amazon.com and Rakuten have reported a dramatic spike in sales of emergency-related items. Drinking water, emergency toilets, and preserved foods have rapidly climbed the best-selling rankings, with some products already out of stock. The trend is particularly pronounced in central Japan, one of the regions expected to be most affected by a potential megaquake.
Brick-and-mortar establishments are also feeling the strain. DIY chain Cainz has seen shelves cleared of water, disaster kit backpacks, and furniture-securing goods in numerous outlets. In Tokyo, a supermarket displayed an apologetic notice to customers, citing “quake-related media reports” as the cause for product shortages.
In an effort to ensure fair distribution, some retailers have implemented purchasing limits. Ito-Yokado, a major supermarket chain, has restricted sales of drinking water to twelve two-litre bottles per family.
The ripple effects of this consumer behaviour are being felt across various industries. A local beverage company reported an unusually high increase in water orders, while a manufacturer of liquid formula for infants is considering ramping up production to meet escalating demand.
Recognising the potential for supply chain disruptions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has taken to social media to advise against hoarding. Instead, they recommend a measured approach of gradually building up supplies through regular, slightly increased purchases, while maintaining a rotation system to prevent waste.
The panic buying phenomenon intensified following a magnitude 5.3 earthquake that shook areas near Tokyo on Friday night. Although the national weather agency stated that this tremor appeared unrelated to the potential Nankai Trough megaquake, it further unsettled an already anxious populace.
Adding to the tense atmosphere, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck northern and northeastern Japan on Saturday. Despite its considerable strength, the quake’s deep focus, approximately 490 kilometres underground off Hokkaido’s coast, mitigated its impact, resulting in no tsunami warning.
These seismic events follow closely on the heels of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that rattled southwestern Japan on Wednesday, causing some property damage and injuring 14 people. This quake’s epicentre in the waters off Miyazaki Prefecture, near the western edge of the Nankai Trough, prompted the initial advisory that set off the current wave of panic buying.
Experts have long warned that a megaquake originating from the Nankai Trough could potentially surpass the devastation wrought by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Honshu’s northern coast. This looming threat has kept both authorities and citizens on high alert for decades.
