Strong Quake Strikes Akuseki-jima, Kagoshima; Island Residents Safe, Evacuation Considered Amid Ongoing Seismic Activity
At approximately 4:13 PM on July 3, 2025, a powerful earthquake with a seismic intensity of lower 6 (shindo 6-lower) struck Akuseki-jima, Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), there is no concern of a tsunami from this earthquake. According to the Toshima Village Office, all residents of Akuseki-jima have been confirmed safe, and no significant casualties have been reported. Residents temporarily evacuated to places like the grounds of Akuseki-jima Gakuen. The government has established an emergency response headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office and convened the Minister of State for Disaster Management to assess the damage. The waters near the Tokara Islands, including Akuseki-jima, have long experienced frequent earthquakes. This seismic intensity of lower 6 is the strongest tremor ever observed in the region. Earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher have reached 1,050 occurrences to date. Professor Emeritus...