Upper-5 Quakes Strike Akusekijima Island in Rapid Succession; Authorities Call on Residents to Be on Alert

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:23 JST, July 6, 2025

Earthquakes registering upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 were recorded on Sunday at Akusekijima Island, part of the Tokara Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, where strong quakes continue to occur.

The island had already seen quakes registering lower 6 on Thursday and upper 5 on Saturday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, two consecutive quakes reaching upper 5 were observed within minutes of each other on Sunday. A magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred at 2:01 p.m., while a magnitude 5.4 quake occurred at 2:07 p.m. Neither event triggered a tsunami warning.

Akusekijima also experienced several intensity-4 tremors on Sunday.

At around 12:42 p.m., an intensity-4 quake struck with a magnitude of 4.4. Seven minutes later, another intensity-4 quake occurred with a magnitude of 3.7. Another one hit at 1:20 p.m., with a magnitude 4.5. The agency announced that none of these events posed a tsunami risk.

Since June 21, a barrage of quakes have rattled waters near the Tokara Islands, with 1,358 tremors of intensity 1 or higher having been recorded as of 7 p.m. Saturday. The agency is urging residents to remain on alert for similarly strong quakes for the time being, noting elevated risks of building damage and landslides in some areas.

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