Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake Strikes Tokara Islands, Nearly 900 Quakes in 12 Days

Seismic Intensity 4 Shaking Detected on Some Islands
No Tsunami Concerns... Earthquake Depth "Very Shallow"
"Many Elderly Complain of Fatigue as Earthquakes Continue"

At around 2:51 p.m. on July 2, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the waters off the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, where a series of small earthquakes have been continuing since late last month.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no concern of a tsunami (seismic sea wave) resulting from the earthquake, and the depth of the quake was described as "very shallow." The epicenter was at latitude 29.30 degrees north and longitude 129.10 degrees east.

Magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Tokara Islands. Japan Meteorological Agency website

Some islands experienced seismic intensity 4 shaking as a result of this earthquake.

Unlike magnitude, which indicates the absolute strength of an earthquake, seismic intensity as classified by the Japan Meteorological Agency is a relative concept that quantifies how people in the affected area feel the quake and the degree to which surrounding objects shake.

Seismic intensity 4 is characterized by most people being startled and ceiling lights swinging significantly.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, from June 21 until 10 a.m. on July 2, there were 877 earthquakes of seismic intensity 1 or higher in the Tokara Islands. As small earthquakes have continued for more than ten days in the Tokara Islands, anxiety among residents is spreading.

An official from Toshimamura stated to the Yomiuri that "as the earthquakes continue, many elderly people are complaining of fatigue," and added, "They are in need of both physical and mental care."

The Tokara Islands also experienced a series of more than 300 small earthquakes in both December 2021 and September 2023.