'Always shaking': Over 900 quakes jolt Tokara Islands within two weeks; no major damage reported

A remote island in southern Japan has been shaken by more than 900 earthquakes in the past two weeks, according to the country’s weather agency. The constant shaking has left residents scared and unable to sleep, worried that even stronger quakes might come, as reported by the Guardian.

No major damage has been reported so far. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency said it cannot predict when the tremors will stop.

“Seismic activity has been very active in the seas around the Tokara island chain since June 21,” said Ayataka Ebita, an agency official, at an emergency news conference. His statement followed a magnitude 5.5 quake that hit the island around 3.30 pm Wednesday. By 4 pm, the total number of quakes had surpassed 900.

Residents have been advised to be ready to take shelter or evacuate if stronger quakes hit.

The media outlet, Mainichi Shimbun said around 740 earthquakes occurred in just 10 days period till Tuesday. The quakes were all recorded as at least level 1 on Japan’s 7-point seismic intensity scale, where 7 is the strongest. A level 5 quake is strong enough to alarm people.

Tokara village officials said residents were exhausted from the constant shaking. One resident told local TV: “It feels like it’s always shaking. It’s very scary to even fall asleep.” Another said they were thinking about evacuating their children.

Official records show daily quakes peaked at 183 on June 23, then dropped to 15 on June 26 and 16 on June 27. However, the numbers climbed again to 98 on June 29 and 62 on June 30.

A similar wave of earthquakes occured in Tokara last year when 346 quakes were recorded, as per meteorological department. Seven of the 12 Tokara Islands are inhabited, with about 700 residents in total. Experts said the island’s unusual underwater landscape makes it easy for pressure to build up and trigger earthquakes.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake prone countries. It sits on top of the four major tectonic plates in the Pacific “ring of fire” and experiences around 1,500 tremors a year.

This week, Japan’s government said it needs to be prepared for a possible “megaquake” along the Pacific coast.

Although it is impossible to predict when, exactly, an earthquake will occur, a government panel in January marginally increased the probability of a major jolt in the Nankai Trough in the next 30 years to between 75% and 82%.

If such a quake and tsunami strike, officials warn it could kill up to 298,000 people and cause damage worth as much as $2 trillion.