Photo/Illutration Kodakarajima is part of the Tokara island chain, located off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. (Junko Watanabe)

TOSHIMA, Kagoshima Prefecture–A series of earthquakes that have rattled remote islands and put residents on edge here continued on July 2, with one of the strongest tremors so far rocking Kodakarajima island in the afternoon.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. and registered a seismic intensity of lower 5 on Japan’s 7-point scale--strong enough to topple items off shelves.

A similarly intense quake was also recorded earlier in the day, shortly after 4:30 a.m., on nearby Akusekijima island.

These mark the second and third times that quakes of this intensity have struck the Tokara island chain off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture since the intense seismic activity began on June 21.

By 6 p.m. on July 2, the region had experienced a staggering 932 quakes in total.

More than 80 of these were strong enough for most residents to feel the tremors, with each quake registering at least a seismic intensity of 3.

Following the afternoon quake on July 2, staff at the local school, Kodakarajima Gakuen, reported intense shaking that rattled the entire building.

“It was unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before,” said a school official.

Only four elementary school students were present at the time, as the older students were away on a school trip. The children were safely evacuated outdoors.

No injuries were reported, and the students had been attending school wearing helmets since the previous week as a precaution.

However, a fissure measuring 10 meters long and just under 1 centimeter wide appeared in the schoolyard following the tremor.

“The earthquakes keep occurring and they’re growing stronger,” the school official added. “We’re very worried about the stress on the children and staff. We just want them to end soon.”

(This article was written by Hiroyuki Takei and Junko Watanabe.)

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