Another Series of Earthquakes Hit Tokara Islands in Japan, Surpassing 1,000 in Two Weeks

About 1,000 Earthquakes Recorded in the Past 13 Days
Significantly Exceeds Previous Cases
Japan Meteorological Agency Also Urges Caution

Tokara Islands in Japan (area marked with a red circle). Google Maps

Approximately 1,000 earthquakes have been recorded over about two weeks near the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

According to Japan's NHK on July 3, there have been about 1,000 earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher in the vicinity of the Tokara Islands since June 21. In the nearby area of Koboshima, seismic activity intensified during the same period, and at around 7 a.m. on this day, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 4 was observed.

Looking at the number of earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher since June 21: 28 on June 21, 119 on June 22, 183 on June 23 (the highest), 68 on June 24, 69 on June 25, 15 on June 26, 16 on June 27, 34 on June 28, 103 on June 29, 63 on June 30, 155 on July 1, and 119 on July 2.

Including the earthquakes that occurred on this day, the total approaches 1,000, and no tsunamis have been generated. The Japan Meteorological Agency believes that the earthquakes originated within the landward plate, based on the depth of the hypocenter.

In this region, 346 earthquakes were recorded over 15 days in September 2023, and 308 earthquakes over 26 days in December 2021. Considering that over 1,000 earthquakes have occurred in the past 13 days, this is an unusual figure.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has advised, "For the time being, please be alert for earthquakes accompanied by shaking of seismic intensity 5 or higher."