Tokara, a small and remote island in southern Japan, has been rocked by more than 900 earthquakes in the past two weeks. The tremors have caused deep panic among local residents, many losing sleep at night. Although no major damage or tsunami warnings have been issued so far, authorities have issued warnings and urged residents to be prepared.
Recent Earthquake Intensity and Number
A strong 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Tokara Islands on Wednesday, July 2. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that since June 21, the sea around the islands has been unusually active in earthquakes. Although, Tokara has had earthquakes before, this is the first time that such a frequency and number of earthquakes have occurred. Local media reported that this is a completely unusual situation.
A local resident told broadcaster MBC,
‘রাতে এখন ঘুমাতে গেলেও ভয় করে। মনে হয় সবকিছু কাঁপছে।’
Translation: “Even when I try to sleep at night, I feel as if everything around me is shaking. It’s terrifying.”
Chizuko Arikawa, a resident of Akusekijima Island, told the media,
‘ভূমিকম্প আঘাত হানার আগে মহাসাগর থেকে অদ্ভুত একটি গর্জন শোনা যায়, বিশেষ করে রাতে। এটা ভয়াবহ।’
Translation: “There’s a strange roaring sound coming from the ocean before an earthquake hits, especially at night. It’s terrifying.”
This 54-year-old woman, a resident of the seaside, also said,
‘সবাই ক্লান্ত। আমরা সবাই চাই, এটা বন্ধ হোক।’
Translation: “Everyone is tired. We all want this to stop.”
There are no hospitals on these islands, and the nearest hospital is about a six-hour ferry ride away in Kagoshima City, making it nearly impossible to get emergency medical care in the event of a major accident.
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Hotels and guesthouses in Tokara have temporarily closed to tourists. If necessary, these establishments will be used as emergency shelters for residents. Meanwhile, a new scare has been sparked by an old manga (comic book) prediction. It reads, “A terrible earthquake will occur on July 5th.” Many tourists have canceled their trips after the rumor spread.
Japan: An Earthquake-Prone Country
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. It is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire the junction of several tectonic plates. Japan experiences an average of about 1,500 earthquakes each year. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Japanese history, killing more than 18,000 people.
The government has been warning for decades about a devastating “Big One” earthquake, which could kill more than 300,000 people. With this risk in mind, the government recently announced a new round of preparedness measures, including:
•Building dams and sea walls
•Building emergency shelters
•Raising public awareness about disaster preparedness
Source: Somoy TV
