Japan to revise strategy against possible massive Tokyo quake

TOKYO - The Japanese government will aim to step up measures over the next 10 years to minimize deaths in the event of a massive earthquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area, including wider use of seismic breakers to prevent fires, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.

In the first amendment of its emergency plans since 2015, the government will alter its goal from "around halving" to "more than halving" the estimated death toll, currently up to 18,000, by enhancing fire safety measures. The proposal is set to be approved by the Cabinet as early as June.