Japan’s Tokara Islands Hit by 5.4 Magnitude Earthquake

Series of Temblors Prompts Evacuations

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake has struck the Tokara island chain in southwestern **Japan**, the latest in a series of temblors causing some residents to evacuate the area.

Details of the Earthquake

The earthquake occurred off the coast of the Tokara island chain at 6:29 a.m. local time, with a depth of approximately 19 kilometers, according to the **Japan Meteorological Agency**. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning. The quake measured upper 5 on **Japan**’s seismic intensity scale of 7.

Initially reported as a magnitude 5.3 quake at a depth of 20 kilometers, these figures were later revised by authorities.

Warnings Issued

The **Japan Meteorological Agency** is cautioning that strong aftershocks are anticipated and may lead to potential landslides and the collapse of buildings.

Notably, earthquake activity in the Tokara island chain region has surpassed 1,000 instances since June 21. On July 3, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake, measuring lower 6 on the Japanese scale, shook the area.

Evacuations Underway

Around a dozen residents from Akuseki Island, which has experienced severe shaking recently, evacuated to **Kagoshima** on the main island of **Kyushu** via ferry on July 4.

Earthquakes have been increasing in intensity; the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) detected 1,874 earthquakes in the past 30 days, compared to an average of 1,668 per month (USGS).