- 14 Mar 2002
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Over the past two weeks, a remote and sparsely populated island group in southern Japan has experienced more than 900 earthquakes, leaving residents in a state of heightened anxiety and unable to sleep peacefully. Authorities reported that seismic activity in the waters surrounding the Tokara Islands has remained "very active" since 21 June, with a magnitude 5.5 earthquake striking on Wednesday.
Local officials have urged residents to be ready to evacuate should the situation escalate. One resident said that the constant shaking has made it frightening even to fall asleep. While the Tokara Islands have seen earthquake swarms before, local media noted that the frequency of the latest tremors is particularly abnormal. Japan is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, experiencing approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually.
Local officials have urged residents to be ready to evacuate should the situation escalate. One resident said that the constant shaking has made it frightening even to fall asleep. While the Tokara Islands have seen earthquake swarms before, local media noted that the frequency of the latest tremors is particularly abnormal. Japan is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, experiencing approximately 1,500 earthquakes annually.
Japan: Tokara islanders sleepless after 900 quakes in two weeks
"Everyone's exhausted. We just want it to stop," says one resident of the Tokara islands.