Authorities in Japan have called for the evacuation of a remote island in the country’s southwest following a strong earthquake and an alarming surge in seismic activity over the past fortnight.

The evacuation order was issued for Akuseki Island, part of the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, after a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the area on Thursday morning. This follows more than 1,000 smaller tremors recorded in the region between 21 June and 3 July- a period of intense seismic unrest that has prompted growing concern among experts.

There were no major injuries or damage reported from the most recent quake. However, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) rated the tremor’s seismic intensity as “lower 6” on Japan’s 7-point scale- a level at which it becomes difficult for people to remain standing. The earthquake’s epicentre was offshore, near the Tokara island group, roughly 1,200 km southwest of Tokyo, and its focal depth was 20 km.

In response, officials urged the island’s 89 residents to evacuate to a safer location on the island-specifically, the grounds of the local school. The recommendation comes not only in light of the latest tremor, but due to the continued risk posed by ongoing seismic instability in the region.

“In areas that experienced strong shaking, the risk of building collapse and landslides is elevated,” warned Ayataka Ebita, head of the earthquake and tsunami observation division at the JMA.

He also cautioned residents to remain vigilant, saying that further tremors of similar strength could occur in the coming days. However, he confirmed that there was no tsunami risk associated with Thursday’s quake.

The Japan island evacuation has drawn national attention, both for its rarity and the geological volatility behind it. The Tokara Islands consist of twelve small islands, seven of which are inhabited, with a combined population of around 700. While earthquakes are not uncommon in the region, the sheer volume and frequency of recent tremors is unusual- more than 1,031 quakes with seismic intensity of 1 or higher have been recorded in less than two weeks.

A similar swarm occurred in September 2023, when Tokara experienced over 340 tremors in a short span, but this year’s sequence is notably more prolonged and severe.

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world. Situated on the so-called Ring of Fire- the tectonically active arc surrounding the Pacific Ocean- the country sits at the convergence of four major tectonic plates. With a population of 125 million, Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes per year, accounting for an estimated 18% of all seismic activity globally.

The current situation has not yet escalated to the levels of past disasters, but it has revived public memories of devastating quakes in the country’s recent history. On 1 January 2024, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, killing at least 470 people- many of them elderly residents who died in the days following the quake. That was Japan’s strongest recorded quake in more than a decade.

And in 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the northeastern coast triggered a deadly tsunami that killed more than 18,500 people and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, one of the worst nuclear incidents since Chernobyl.

In light of this history, Japanese authorities are known for their proactive approach to seismic risk, issuing evacuation notices and safety advisories even when no immediate damage has occurred. Thursday’s Japan island evacuation reflects that precautionary mindset, aimed at protecting life above all else.

Although no tsunami warning has been issued and infrastructure damage remains minimal for now, scientists and officials continue to monitor the situation closely. The JMA says it is still analysing the cause of the unusual seismic swarm and whether it signals a deeper tectonic shift.

As the people of Akuseki Island spend another night sleeping away from their homes, their uncertainty reflects the broader challenge of life in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.

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