Photo/Illutration Akusekijima is a small volcanic island off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, situated in a region known for frequent seismic activity. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

TOSHIMA, Kagoshima Prefecture—A relentless series of earthquakes has shaken Akusekijima island here in the remote Tokara island chain, causing sleepless nights, emotional strain and growing fears of a larger quake to come.

The seismic activity began around June 21 and has continued almost nonstop. The Japan Meteorological Agency had recorded 736 quakes in the area as of 10 a.m. on July 1.

More than 50 of those were strong enough for most residents to feel, each quake registering at least a seismic intensity of 3 on Japan’s 7-point scale.

The strongest so far reached an intensity of lower 5—enough to topple items off shelves. 

Just minutes after lying down, guests at a local inn felt a sudden jolt on the evening of June 29. Over the course of the night, 20 more tremors were recorded.

The unnerving creaks of the shaking wooden building made sleep impossible. Pretending it was a sleeper train didn’t help.

Local residents have been enduring the tremors for over a week.

“After so many quakes, it now feels like the ground is shaking even when it's not,” said Isamu Sakamoto, 60, head of the local residents’ association. “The quakes start with a jolt from below, then the house sways. It’s sickening.”

NO DOCTORS, LIMITED FERRY

Islanders are haunted by memories of December 2021 when a powerful quake struck, reaching a seismic intensity of upper 5 and triggering landslides. While no buildings collapsed and no injuries were reported, some residents chose to evacuate.

“If these repeated tremors have weakened our buildings,” Sakamoto warned, “a bigger one could cause real damage.”

Akusekijima is a volcanic island with steep cliffs that formed in a region known for frequent seismic activity. A village home to 89 people is perched more than 150 meters above sea level, which reduces the risk of tsunami.

The island is located 250 kilometers south of the prefectural capital of Kagoshima, and the only regular transportation is a twice-weekly ferry that takes over 10 hours each way. With no doctor stationed on the island, helicopters may be used in the event of emergencies.

Yuki Matsushita, 36, heads the island’s local administrative office and oversees the disaster response.

“During the 2021 quake, it felt like the island had split in two,” she recalled.

Matsushita has since created a “disaster readiness kit” including resident lists, satellite phones, radios and a drone.

“It helped me sleep again,” she said. “Being prepared gives me confidence.”

Some residents are considering evacuating again, but not everyone can leave.

Chizuko Arikawa, 54, lives by the sea and runs a cattle farm with her husband.

“You can hear a strange roar from the ocean before the quakes hit, especially at night. It’s eerie,” she said.

But with 40 cows to tend, evacuating is not an option.

“Everyone’s exhausted. We just want it to stop,” Arikawa said.

'CAN'T BE ON ALERT FOREVER'

At the local school, 14 students have continued attending classes with safety helmets at the ready. When tremors strike during lessons, students quickly don their headgear.

“We were scared at first, but we’re used to it now,” said several students, who have begun guessing the intensity of each quake as if it were a game. Teachers later reveal the official level, adding a strange routine to an unsettling situation.

Despite their resilience, teachers worry that students are letting their guard down.

“We can't be on high alert forever,” one said. “But getting too used to it is dangerous, too.”

A momentary lull on June 30 offered brief hope, with two hours passing without any shaking.

But it was short-lived. That evening at half past 6, the strongest jolt yet struck, a magnitude 5.3 quake with an intensity of lower 5.

Guests at the inn heard items falling off the shelves, something that hadn’t happened in the past few days. Outside, a middle-aged local woman sat silently by her doorway.

“I’m OK,” she said quietly.

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