In a disquieting episode for the residents of southern Japan’s Tokara island chain, over 900 earthquakes have rattled the area in just two weeks, keeping locals on edge and depriving them of sleep. This surge in seismic activity has been described as “very active” since a magnitude 5.5 quake hit on Wednesday, according to authorities. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage or tsunami warnings; however, officials have urged residents to be prepared for possible evacuations.
“It’s very scary to even fall asleep,” shared one resident with regional broadcaster MBC. “It feels like it’s always shaking.”
Although the Tokara region has historically experienced clusters of earthquakes, the current rate of tremors is unusually high, as noted by local media outlets. Positioned on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the globe’s most seismically active countries, recording around 1,500 earthquakes each year. Approximately 700 people inhabit seven of the 12 Tokara islands, which lack hospitals; the closest medical facility is a six-hour ferry ride away in Kagoshima.
Chizuko Arikawa, a resident of Akusekijima island, recounted her experience, saying, “You can hear a strange roar from the ocean before the quakes hit, especially at night. It’s eerie. Everyone’s exhausted. We just want it to stop.” Isamu Sakamoto, 60, who leads the local residents’ association, added, “After so many quakes, it now feels like the ground is shaking even when it’s not. The quakes start with a jolt from below, then the house sways. It’s sickening.”
In Toshima village, officials indicated that sleep-deprived residents are becoming increasingly fatigued. They have requested that media refrain from overwhelming locals with questions, stating in a notice on the village website, “We ask that you be considerate and not make excessive inquiries or interviews.”
In response to the ongoing earthquakes, several guesthouses on the Tokara islands have ceased accepting tourists, as announced by Toshima Village, which is considering using these facilities as shelters for local residents.
