Japan ups damage seen from feared quake to $2.3T

Published March 19, 2013 7:51am ET



TOKYO (AP) — A major quake off the coast of central Japan could kill more than 320,000 people and cause 220 trillion yen ($2.3 trillion) in economic damage, a government panel said in a report that more than doubles estimates of the potential cost of such a disaster.

The Cabinet Office said in a report carried by major newspapers Tuesday that the estimates were based on expectations for a magnitude 9 earthquake striking in the Nankai Trough, which runs from just southwest of Tokyo to east of the southern island of Kyushu.

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