A wave of seismic activity has struck the remote Tokara Islands in southern Japan, with nearly 470 earthquakes recorded since Saturday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
As of Thursday morning, the agency had documented a total of 474 tremors in the island chain, which lies south of Kyushu. Most of the quakes registered at least a level one on Japan’s seismic intensity scale barely perceptible but enough to be felt by people sitting quietly indoors.
While no significant damage has been reported so far, authorities are urging residents to remain alert. “Seismic activity has intensified in the region,” the JMA stated. “Given that this area has experienced prolonged earthquake patterns in the past, caution is advised, especially against tremors capable of producing stronger shaking.”
Two of the strongest earthquakes in the series reached magnitude 5.1 one occurring on Sunday and another on Tuesday both rated as level four on the Japanese scale. At that level, the shaking typically causes noticeable movement of hanging objects and is strong enough to startle most people.
Seismologists note that the Tokara region has a history of similar activity. In September 2023, over 340 tremors were recorded in just over two weeks.
Marine volcanology expert and Kumamoto University associate professor Hisayoshi Yokose warned that larger quakes are possible. “There is a chance of a magnitude-6 event, so ongoing vigilance is essential,” he said in an interview with NHK.
Of the 12 islands that make up the Tokara chain, seven are inhabited, with a total population of around 700 residents. Access is limited to a ferry that operates biweekly under favorable weather conditions. Several of the islands also contain active volcanoes, adding to the potential geological risks.
Japan, situated along the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is among the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. Sitting atop four major tectonic plates, the country experiences approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually, accounting for nearly 18 percent of global seismic activity.
While many of these quakes are relatively weak, the impact varies significantly depending on the location and depth of each event. On January 1, 2024, a powerful quake devastated the Noto Peninsula, resulting in over 400 deaths from both direct impacts and related incidents such as fires and collapsed structures.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation in the Tokara Islands closely, with preparedness measures in place in case of stronger seismic events.
