Japan’s Tokara Islands, a remote chain in the country’s deep south, have seen an uptick in seismic activity. They’ve been documenting more than 900 during just the last two-week span! A recent uptick in tremors has raised alarm across the island nation, home to about 125 million prone to shaking. Hollis, Arkansas This nation is already renowned for being one of the most seismically active regions on the planet.
Japan sits at the intersection of four large tectonic plates. Resting on the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” this area is famous for its earth-shaking turbulence. As a side effect, Japan is home to roughly 1,500 earthquakes per year – or about 18% of all earthquakes in the world. The second of these three major historical earthquakes—the Great East Japan Earthquake—occurred in March 2011. This disastrous magnitude 9.0 earthquake caused a tsunami that unfortunately took over 18,000 lives.
The recent earthquake swarms around the eastern edge of the plate between Kushu and the Tokara Islands have been especially strong since June 21. On the 23rd of June, Japan’s meteorological agency measured a scary 183 quakes. The figures varied back and forth in the days to come, decreasing to 15 on June 26 and 16 on June 27. Yet, seismic activity escalated even further, with 34 earthquakes on June 28 peaking at 98 earthquakes on June 29 in one day. The situation culminated in a magnitude 5.5 quake registered at approximately 3:30 PM on June 30.
Residents of Tokara village, the northernmost inhabited isle in the chain, have voiced their concern about the constant shaking. Many experience extreme sleep disruption and increased anxiety from the constant risk of aftershocks. As one of the villagers put it, “It’s like it shakes all the time now.” Another one said the same thing, “It’s extremely alarming to just go to sleep.” That unknown about future quakes has prompted some parents to consider home or even school evacuation as a viable option to keep children safe. And no one knows when all this will come to an end. “I have to consider if I need to evacuate my children,” said one worried constituent.
Japan’s national government has been preparing for the possibility of catastrophic seismic disasters for decades. Last month, scientists published an updated forecast foreseeing a catastrophic megaquake and tsunami. They particularly cautioned that this great disaster could lead to nearly 298,000 deaths and $2 trillion in damages. In January, a government advisory panel revealed a more alarming development. They increased the probability of a M8+ earthquake along the Nankai Trough in the next 30 years to between 75% and 82%.
These recent seismic events come on the heels of a sad scene that played out in early January. That magnitude 7.9 quake devastated the Noto Peninsula and killed close to 600 people. The ongoing turmoil in that region stands as an important reminder of Japan’s susceptibility to large and catastrophic natural disasters.
The Tokara Islands are presently experiencing an extremely intense and shallow dose of seismic shaking. Both local residents and national authorities, as well as our own TTC team, understand the importance of remaining prepared and watchful. The government should take action to alleviate the situation. They’re sharing crucial information, guidance, and recommendations to help protect the public and keep them safe during these uncertain and dangerous times.