Key Facts
• July 3, 4:13 PM: Intensity 6 Lower earthquake struck Akusekijima, Toshima Village.
• Epicenter: Tokara Islands offshore, depth approximately 20 km, magnitude 5.5.
• Total earthquakes since June 21: 1,085, three times the previous record.
• July 3: 113 quakes recorded, including one Intensity 6 Lower and five Intensity 4.
• 13 residents, aged 0–80, evacuated to Kagoshima City via ferry on July 4.
• Evacuation ferry “Ferry Toshima 2” departed at 7:00 AM, arriving at 6:30 PM.
• Mayor Kubo Genichiro: First Intensity 6 Lower quake prompted disaster response.
• Japan Meteorological Agency warns of continued Intensity 6 Lower quakes.
• Government upgraded crisis center to Prime Minister’s Office Response Room.
• 1997: Last Intensity 6 Lower quake in Kagoshima Prefecture.
• September 2023: Region recorded 345 M2.5+ quakes, highest since 1995.
Summary
On July 3, an Intensity 6 Lower earthquake struck Akusekijima in Toshima Village, with an epicenter near the Tokara Islands at a depth of 20 km and a magnitude of 5.5. This marked the first Intensity 6 Lower quake in the region since 1997. The area has experienced over 1,085 quakes since June 21, tripling previous records. On July 4, 13 residents, including children, evacuated to Kagoshima City via the “Ferry Toshima 2.” The evacuation is expected to last a week, with possible extensions. Mayor Kubo Genichiro initiated a disaster response, and the government upgraded its crisis center. The Japan Meteorological Agency warns of potential continued seismic activity, urging preparedness for Intensity 6 Lower quakes.
