Over 900 Earthquakes Jolt Japan's Tokara Islands Within Two Weeks

More than 900 earthquakes have struck the remote Tokara Islands in southern Japan over the past two weeks, according to the local authorities. However, no damage has been reported, and no tsunami warning has been raised so far. Since June 21, continuous seismic activity has been recorded in the seas surrounding the Tokara Islands, with the strongest magnitude of 5.5 hitting on Wednesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has classified the activity as highly unusual, though not unprecedented. Japan, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most seismically active countries on Earth, experiencing over 1,500 earthquakes annually.

Seven of the 12 Tokara islands are home to approximately 700 people. These islands lack immediate access to hospital facilities, requiring at least a six-hour ferry ride to Kagoshima. In light of the situation, authorities have advised residents to stay alert and prepare for potential evacuation. Some guesthouses have suspended tourist services, reserving them as emergency shelters for locals. Residents have expressed rising concern, with the head of the local residents' association in Akusekijima stating, "After so many quakes, it now feels like the ground is shaking even when it's not."