Based on their tectonic similarities,the Ryukyu trench is as likely to experience a rare mega-thrust earthquake as the Japanese,Chilean,and Sunda trenches.Based on an analysis of the mega-thrust hypocenter parameters along trenches in recent years,this study proposed a scenario of an earthquake of M_W9.0 in the Ryukyu trench and then simulated the resulting earthquake-induced tsunami.Our study results indicated that the initial tsunami reached a height of up to 8 m,then propagated to northeast Taiwan half an hour later and increased in height to over 10 m.Three to four hours later,the tsunami reached the south coast of Zhejiang province and the north coast of Fujian province,and its height was then 1~2 m.Roughly five hours later,the tsunami propagated to the north coasts of Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces,at heights of approximately 2 m and less than 0.5 m,respectively.The tsunami reached the shoreline of Shanghai eight hours later,and its maximum height was then approximately 1 m.These simulated tsunami height data tend to be lower than would occur in reality because of the shoaling effect in the bays along the southeast China shoreline.Owing to the presence of a number of nuclear power plants along the coast of southeast China,the potential for tsunami impact on these plants should not be ignored in the event of a rare earthquake in the Ryukyu trench.We recommend that nuclear plants take measures to prevent potential damage from tsunami hazards.