More than 2,000 earthquakes that can be felt by humans have recently struck around a southwestern Japanese island chain.

Weather officials are calling on people to remain vigilant for more earthquakes that could register lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of zero to seven.

Seismic activity has intensified since June 21 around Akusekijima Island and Kodakarajima Island in the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture.

A quake measuring lower 6 hit Akusekijima Island on July 3, followed by two jolts with intensities of upper 5 on July 6. Another quake registering lower 5 struck the island on July 7.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says that as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, a total of 2,087 tremors with intensities of one or higher have been observed in the sea off the Tokara Islands since June 21.

The sea off the island chain saw a series of earthquakes in 2021 and 2023. But the number of recent jolts has far exceeded the past figures.

nhk