A remote island chain off south Japan has been jolted by over 900 earthquakes in a single week, evoking fear and uncertainty among its tiny population, the officials stated.
As per the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), seismic activity has been continuous since June 21 off the Tokara Islands, a chain of 12 small islands in the Kagoshima Prefecture. Seven of the islands have a population of approximately 700.
During an emergency press conference on Wednesday, Ayataka Ebita, head of the JMA’s earthquake and tsunami observation department, confirmed that more than 900 quakes had been detected at 4pm. He told people to stay alert and be prepared to evacuate if needed, cautioning that larger quakes might still strike. There was a 5.5 magnitude quake detected around the area at 3:30pm on the same day.
Local residents say they are exhausted and anxious after days of near-constant shaking. “It feels like it’s always shaking. It’s very scary to even fall asleep,” one resident told local broadcaster MBC. Another added, “It’s not clear when this will end. I’m thinking about evacuating my kids.”
The tremors peaked on June 23, when 183 tremors were reported in one day. Some residents have said they can hear unusual oceanic grunts prior to quakes occurring, increasing the spookiness of nighttime.
With few options for accessing emergency services the closest hospital is a six-hour boat ride away residents are particularly at risk. While no significant damage has been reported, the psychological impact has been heavy.
Japan, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is beset by frequent earthquakes. Although the nation has made large investments in early warnings and infrastructure, officials acknowledge that it still must do more to protect outlying villages such as those in Tokara.
