Two Strong Earthquakes Hit Akusekijima, Triggering Landslides and Evacuations

Jul 07, 2025 | News On Japan

KAGOSHIMA, Jul 07, 2025 (News On Japan) - Seismic activity remains intense in waters off the Tokara Islands, where two earthquakes measuring upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale struck in quick succession after 2 p.m. on July 6th.

Footage taken at the time of the quake on Akusekijima shows a port breakwater in the foreground, while a cliff along the coastline in the background collapses, raising a large cloud of dust.

According to the Toshima Village Office, all 28 residents on Akusekijima were confirmed safe with no injuries reported.

The village has initiated voluntary evacuations for those wishing to leave the island. Two days ago, the first group of 13 residents evacuated from Akusekijima to Kagoshima City.

A reporter on the scene stated: "This is Kagoshima Port in Kagoshima City. A ferry carrying the second group of evacuees is expected to arrive shortly. The vessel departed this morning after stopping at Akusekijima and Kodakarajima, and is transporting a total of 46 people. Upon arrival, the evacuees will be accommodated in hotels or with relatives arranged by the village."

Toshima Village has experienced a series of quakes over the past week, including one measuring lower 6, three at upper 5, and three at lower 5, with Akusekijima at the center of the activity.

In response, two doctors and one nurse have been dispatched to the island to provide physical and mental health support for residents.

Source: TBS

New Tropical Depression Threatens Flooding in Southern Japan

A newly formed tropical depression near Taiwan on June 9th is expected to intensify the seasonal rain front lingering over southwestern Japan, raising the risk of warning-level rainfall across Okinawa and the Amami Islands through around June 11th.

Japan Ranks Last Among OECD Countries in Sleep

Japan, which records the shortest average sleep duration among OECD countries, is launching new efforts to tackle widespread sleep deprivation, including the opening of specialized sleep disorder departments and programs aimed at improving children's sleep habits through sports and physical activity.

Japan National Team Holds First Training Session in Nashville

Japan's national soccer team arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8th from Monterrey, Mexico, where it had been conducting a pre-World Cup training camp, and held its first practice session at its base camp for the FIFA World Cup in North America.

Sakurajima Eruption Blankets Kagoshima in Volcanic Ash

A prolonged eruption at Sakurajima on June 7th blanketed parts of Kagoshima City in volcanic ash, turning roads gray and prompting long lines of vehicles seeking car washes after a plume of smoke rose 1,300 meters above the crater.

Japan Lifts Tsunami Advisories After Philippines Quake

A powerful earthquake struck off Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines at 8:38 a.m. (Japan time) on June 8th, generating tsunami waves across parts of the Pacific, causing building collapses and casualties near the epicenter, and prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue tsunami advisories along a wide stretch of Japan's Pacific coastline before lifting all of them at 4:50 p.m.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

JR East to Phase Out Traditional Paper Train Tickets

Passengers traveling on JR East services may soon no longer need to insert paper tickets into ticket gates, as the railway operator announced plans to gradually phase out its traditional black-backed paper tickets beginning next spring.

Foreign Tourists Ignore Fuji Closure Before Official Opening

Foreign tourists continue to climb Mount Fuji despite strict access restrictions ahead of the official climbing season, prompting local officials to renew calls for tougher penalties and requiring climbers to pay for rescue operations conducted during the mountain's closed period.

Rail Service Suspended on Tokushima's Dosan Line After Landslide

A slope collapse alongside the JR Dosan Line between Tsubojiri and Hashikura stations in Tokushima Prefecture, detected after a rockfall warning system was activated in the early hours of June 8th, has forced the suspension of train services with no timetable yet established for the restoration of operations.

JAL to Operate Chubu–Obihiro–Kushiro Flights Again This August

Japan Airlines will once again operate seasonal flights between Chubu Centrair International Airport and the Hokkaido cities of Obihiro and Kushiro throughout August, offering travelers from hot Nagoya a chance to enjoy the region's cooler summer climate.

Sakurajima Eruption Blankets Kagoshima in Volcanic Ash

Bear Spotted Running Through Central Utsunomiya Shopping District

A large bear was captured on security camera footage running through a shopping arcade in central Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, in the early hours of June 7th, as authorities stepped up warnings following a series of bear sightings across the city.

Tokai and Kanto Enter Rainy Season as Heavy Rain Threatens Western Japan

Japan's Meteorological Agency announced on June 7th that the rainy season is believed to have begun in the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions, marking the seasonal shift to wetter weather across a broad area of the country.

Yakushima Faces New Tourism Challenges

Yakushima, a world natural heritage island in Kagoshima Prefecture, is marking 60 years since the discovery of Jomon Sugi, the island's iconic cedar tree estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, as concerns grow over the future of the ancient forests that have long supported both tourism and local life.

< 2 3 4 5 >