Japan islanders sleepless after 900 earthquakes in two weeks

Residents of the Tokara islands in southern Japan have been struggling to get any rest after more than 900 earthquakes shook their homes over the past two weeks. The Tokara islands are a remote group of islands, with only about 700 people living on seven of the twelve islands. The earthquakes began on June 21, and the strongest one so far was a magnitude 5. 5. Although there have been no reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning has been issued, local authorities have told people to be ready to evacuate if the situation gets worse.

Many people are finding it hard to sleep because the ground keeps shaking. One resident told a local TV station that it is scary to even try to fall asleep, because it feels like the shaking never stops. Some people say they can hear a strange roaring sound from the ocean before the earthquakes hit, especially at night, which makes the experience even more frightening. Chizuko Arikawa, who lives on Akusekijima island and runs a cattle farm, said everyone is exhausted and just wants the earthquakes to stop. Another resident, Isamu Sakamoto, said that after so many tremors, it feels like the ground is moving even when it is not. He described how the earthquakes start with a sudden jolt from below, then the house sways, which makes people feel sick.

The Tokara islands are far from big cities, and some of them do not have hospitals. The nearest hospital is at least six hours away by ferry, which makes it hard for people to get help if they need it. Because of the earthquakes, some guesthouses have stopped accepting tourists, so they can be used as shelters for local people if they need to leave their homes. The local government has also asked the media not to bother residents too much with questions and interviews.

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world because it sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet. The country experiences about 1,500 earthquakes every year. While most of these are small, some can be very destructive. In 2011, a huge earthquake caused a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people. Recently, rumors have been spreading that a massive earthquake could happen soon, partly because of a comic book that predicted a big quake on July 5 this year. These rumors have made some tourists cancel their trips. The Japanese government is working on new safety measures, like building embankments and evacuation buildings, but they say more needs to be done to prepare for a possible disaster in the future.