There are a slew of geological reasons why Japan is prone to sudden earthquakes. Earthquakes often occur due to the stresses caused by the movement of tectonic plates that comprise the Earth’s crust. Japan is situated along the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, where it lies across three tectonic plates, including the Pacific Plate under the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea Plate.

Earthquakes can also occur within a single tectonic plate, thus occurring on land rather than at sea. Since earthquakes displace large sections of the seabed, sending shockwaves through the water and creating waves, the dangers of tsunamis are extremely high. Beyond that, underwater volcanic eruptions can displace water with explosive force, triggering tsunamis.

What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?

The ring refers to a

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