Scientists of the Institute for Marine Resources and Environment (MRE) and Active Fault Research Center (AFRC) claim that a large earthquake may occur in the near future, to the north and south of the 1993 Southwest Hokkaido earthquake. The 1993 earthquake caused devastating damage on Okushiri Island including 200 fatalities. They found evidence of old earthquakes from visual observation by using submersibles of the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center. A lack of features from recent events lead them to conclude that seismic gaps exist in both regions.