A remote group of islands in southern Japan has been shaken by over 470 earthquakes since Saturday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The Tokara Islands, located south of Kyushu, have been experiencing constant tremors, though luckily, no major damage has been reported so far.
What’s happening in the Tokara Islands?
By Thursday morning, the JMA confirmed that 474 earthquakes had been recorded in the area. These were not very strong but enough to be felt by people sitting quietly indoors. The strongest ones, two magnitude-5.1 quakes happened on Sunday and Tuesday. These were strong enough to shake hanging lamps and rattle dishes.
Authorities have warned people in the area to stay alert. “This region has seen long periods of earthquake activity in the past. Please be careful,” the JMA said.
A marine volcano expert, Hisayoshi Yokose, has also said that a magnitude-6 earthquake could still happen.
Has this happened before?
Yes. In September 2023, the same area had 346 earthquakes in just 15 days. Seven of the 12 Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 people living there. Some of these islands have active volcanoes. They are also hard to reach, ferries only run twice a week when the weather is good.
Why does Japan have so many earthquakes?
Japan sits on four major tectonic plates and is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. That’s why the country experiences around 1,500 earthquakes every year, about 18% of the world’s total. Most of them are mild, but some can cause serious damage depending on their location and depth.
Reminder of the 2024 New Year’s Day quake
On 1 January 2024, a powerful earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, killing over 400 people. Buildings collapsed, fires broke out, and basic services like water and power were disrupted. That tragedy is still fresh in many people’s minds.
Ryo Tatsuki’s prediction adds to public fear
As the earthquakes continue, fear is also rising due to a viral prediction by Ryo Tatsuki, a manga artist and self-proclaimed clairvoyant.
In her book The Future I Saw, Tatsuki claims that a massive disaster will hit Japan on 5 July 2025. She describes cities sinking into the sea, boiling water, giant bubbles, and a mega-tsunami, stronger than the one in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
What are Japanese officials saying?
Officials are asking the public not to panic. The governor of Miyagi, Yoshihiro Murai, said there is no official warning and advised people not to change their plans based on rumours.
Authorities hope that tourism won’t be affected too badly and that the prediction will pass without any real event.
Who is Ryo Tatsuki?
She is a manga artist from Japan who claims to have visions of the future. In the past, she says she predicted:
As July 5 approaches, tension is rising across Japan, not just because of the earthquakes, but also because of what might come next.
Inputs from agencies
What’s happening in the Tokara Islands?
By Thursday morning, the JMA confirmed that 474 earthquakes had been recorded in the area. These were not very strong but enough to be felt by people sitting quietly indoors. The strongest ones, two magnitude-5.1 quakes happened on Sunday and Tuesday. These were strong enough to shake hanging lamps and rattle dishes.Authorities have warned people in the area to stay alert. “This region has seen long periods of earthquake activity in the past. Please be careful,” the JMA said.
A marine volcano expert, Hisayoshi Yokose, has also said that a magnitude-6 earthquake could still happen.
Has this happened before?
Yes. In September 2023, the same area had 346 earthquakes in just 15 days. Seven of the 12 Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 people living there. Some of these islands have active volcanoes. They are also hard to reach, ferries only run twice a week when the weather is good.Why does Japan have so many earthquakes?
Japan sits on four major tectonic plates and is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. That’s why the country experiences around 1,500 earthquakes every year, about 18% of the world’s total. Most of them are mild, but some can cause serious damage depending on their location and depth.Reminder of the 2024 New Year’s Day quake
On 1 January 2024, a powerful earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in central Japan, killing over 400 people. Buildings collapsed, fires broke out, and basic services like water and power were disrupted. That tragedy is still fresh in many people’s minds.Ryo Tatsuki’s prediction adds to public fear
As the earthquakes continue, fear is also rising due to a viral prediction by Ryo Tatsuki, a manga artist and self-proclaimed clairvoyant. In her book The Future I Saw, Tatsuki claims that a massive disaster will hit Japan on 5 July 2025. She describes cities sinking into the sea, boiling water, giant bubbles, and a mega-tsunami, stronger than the one in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.
What are Japanese officials saying?
Officials are asking the public not to panic. The governor of Miyagi, Yoshihiro Murai, said there is no official warning and advised people not to change their plans based on rumours.Authorities hope that tourism won’t be affected too badly and that the prediction will pass without any real event.
Who is Ryo Tatsuki?
She is a manga artist from Japan who claims to have visions of the future. In the past, she says she predicted:- The 2011 Tohoku earthquake
- The deaths of Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury
- The Covid-19 pandemic
- A new deadly virus variant expected in 2030
As July 5 approaches, tension is rising across Japan, not just because of the earthquakes, but also because of what might come next.
Inputs from agencies
