More than 470 earthquakes have shaken a group of small islands in southern Japan since last weekend. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) shared this update on Thursday, June 26, and advised local people to stay alert.
The tremors are happening around the Tokara Islands, located to the south of Kyushu. The JMA said they recorded 474 small quakes that were just strong enough to be felt if someone is sitting still indoors. Although the shakes have mostly been mild, officials warned that stronger ones could still happen.
“Seismic activity has increased. As this region has experienced extended periods of earthquake activity in the past, please be vigilant against earthquakes that cause strong shaking,” the agency said in a statement.
The biggest quakes so far were two with a magnitude of 5.1—one on Sunday and another on Tuesday. These caused moderate shaking that could make dishes rattle and hanging items swing. This level of shaking usually surprises people, especially indoors.
This isn’t the first time such activity has been seen in the Tokara area. In September 2023, there were 346 quakes in just 15 days, according to Japan’s NHK news.
The Tokara Islands are made up of 12 volcanic islands, but only seven are home to people. About 700 residents live across the islands, and the only transport to and from the area is by ferry, which runs just twice a week when the weather is good.
A volcanology expert, Hisayoshi Yokose from Kumamoto University, told NHK that stronger earthquakes could still happen. He warned that a magnitude 6 quake is possible, and people should stay prepared.
Japan is known for having many earthquakes because it lies where four tectonic plates meet. It is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which is an area with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Japan has about 1,500 earthquakes every year, which is around 18% of all earthquakes in the world.
Although most of these quakes are small, their effects can vary based on where and how deep they are.
Just earlier this year, on January 1, 2024, a large earthquake in central Japan killed over 400 people. It hit the Noto Peninsula and caused major damage, including collapsed buildings, fires, and broken roads—right as families were celebrating the New Year.
