Over 900 earthquakes rattle Japan’s Tokara islands in two weeks; residents fear stronger shocks 

Akusekijima Island, part of the Tokara island chain in Japan (Image: Guardian)

A remote island chain in southern Japan has experienced over 900 earthquakes in the past two weeks, according to the country's weather agency. The continuous tremors have left residents anxious and sleep-deprived, fueling concerns about potential larger seismic activity.

Earthquakes have been occurring in the populated island chain near the Tokara Islands since June 21. While no major damage has been reported so far, there is still uncertainty about when the seismic activity will subside.

“Seismic activity has been very active in the seas around the Tokara island chain since June 21,” Ayataka Ebita, director of the agency’s earthquake and tsunami observation division, said.

“As of 4pm today, the number has exceeded 900,” he told reporters, urging residents to be ready to take shelter or evacuate due to the risk of more powerful quakes.

“It feels like it’s always shaking,” one resident told the regional broadcaster MBC. “It’s very scary to even fall asleep.” Another resident said: “It’s not clear when all this will end. I should think about whether to evacuate my kids.”

The island is a 150 km long chain of 12 small islands out of which seven are inhabited with a total of 700 residents are living. The chain of islands have only limited access to medical facilities, with the nearest hospital located approximately six hours away by ferry in Kagoshima, the prefectural capital.

Between June 21 and July 1, the region experienced 740 tremors, each registering at least a 1 on Japan’s 7-point seismic intensity scale. The seismic activity reached its peak on June 23, when 183 earthquakes were recorded in a single day, according to official data.

This is not the first instance of such tremors A similar period of intense seismic activity in the Tokara area was seen in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded, according to the meteorological agency.

Why is Japan prone to earthquakes? 

Japan is prone to seismic activates as it is located in the  on the convergence of four major tectonic plates along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." The country has invested a huge amount to develop early warning systems and infrastructure improvements, officials emphasize that further measures are necessary to safeguard communities from large-scale seismic events.

With a population of approximately 125 million, Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes annually accounting for roughly 18% of global seismic activity. Most of these tremors are minor, though the extent of damage depends on factors such as location and depth.