Abacus | An oarfish in Hong Kong is a bad omen for Japan’s earthquake watchers
- Japanese folklore has it that when oarfish rise to shallow waters, disasters like earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions are not far off
- Ominously, one recently washed up on Lamma Island
A sure-fire way of predicting earthquakes remains elusive, and the best ‘heads-up’ money can buy gives little more than a minute’s warning as seismic shock waves travel just a little slower than data from shaking sensors.
An advance warning of 60 to 90 seconds is useful for building management – ensuring lifts stop and doors open at the very next floor, and gives hospital surgeons time to holster their scalpels and office workers can grab hard hats from beneath their chairs – but it is of little use for any more serious preparation.
Curiously though, some animals are believed to be sensitive to seismic signals and move away. The appearance of giant deep sea animals – huge fish and giant squid such as the one found in South Africa in early June – are often thought to be warnings; big seafood runs from a impeding disaster.
