On Wednesday, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck near the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, marking the latest in a series of earthquakes in the region. From June 21 to July 2, over 900 earthquakes have occurred in the area within a span of 12 days, nearly three times the number recorded in similar events in the past, causing concerns among the locals.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, as of late Wednesday afternoon, a total of 911 earthquakes have been recorded, with 3 registering a lower 5 on the seismic intensity scale, 18 at seismic intensity 4, and the rest ranging from seismic intensity 3, 2, to 1. The strongest earthquake so far hit at 3:26 p.m. on Wednesday, measuring 5.5 on the scale.
The definition of a lower 5 earthquake by the Meteorological Agency is one that causes fear among many people and requires holding onto objects to maintain stability during the tremor.
Isamu Sakamoto, a local community leader on Akuseki Island, expressed his concerns about the possibility of stronger earthquakes in a phone interview with The Japan Times. “I didn’t expect it to be this severe,” he said. Initially thinking the seismic activities would subside after the first lower 5 earthquake on Monday, Sakamoto now believes that the earthquakes are not over.
“The shaking isn’t horizontal, it’s vertical. There’s a loud noise first, and then the ground starts shaking. It’s very shocking,” he described.
Sakamoto runs a hotel on the island and has temporarily halted operations for safety reasons.
Masashi Kiyomoto, an official from the Japan Meteorological Agency responsible for earthquakes and tsunamis, stated that the cause of this series of earthquakes remains unclear. “Compared to earthquakes from two or four years ago, we are feeling more than double the number of tremors, but unfortunately, we still do not know the cause or what may happen in the future,” he said.
Ayataka Ebita, the head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring Division at the Meteorological Agency, warned at a press conference on Wednesday that it is impossible to predict when the seismic activities will end. He advised residents to be prepared for evacuation as the region may face even stronger earthquakes.
“I believe this situation will make it difficult for people to sleep,” Ebita remarked.
Earlier on Wednesday at 4:32 a.m., a 5.0 magnitude earthquake occurred near the Tokara Islands. No tsunami warning was issued, with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting that the earthquake had a depth of approximately 16 kilometers.
Kiyomoto emphasized that there is a higher risk of tsunamis when shallow earthquakes of higher magnitudes and depths of 10 to 20 kilometers occur, urging residents to remain vigilant.