'Seismic champagne effect' may explain why fires break out long after earthquakes

Following the devastating urban fire that broke out in Wajima City after Japan's 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, investigators struggled to identify a clear ignition source, despite widespread destruction and unusual reports of flames emerging from areas with no visible combustible material. While previous studies have linked earthquakes to secondary disasters such as tsunamis and infrastructure failures, the possible role of underground methane release has remained poorly understood.