Over 400 earthquakes rattle Japanese island chain

“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,” it said in a statement.

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The largest tremors recorded since Saturday were two magnitude-5.1 quakes, one on Sunday and one on Tuesday.

They had a seismic intensity of four on the Japanese scale — described as an earthquake in which “most people are startled”, dishes rattle and “hanging objects such as lamps swing significantly”.

A similar period of seismic activity in the Tokara area was seen in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded within 15 days, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Seven of the 12 remote Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 residents in total.

The islands, some of which have active volcanoes, are reached by a ferry that runs twice weekly in good weather.

“An earthquake of up to magnitude-6 strength could take place, so please be vigilant,” Hisayoshi Yokose, a marine volcanology specialist and associate professor at Kumamoto University, told NHK.

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