According to the Japan Meteorological Administration, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred on the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture at around 6:29 a.m. on the 5th. Coincidentally, July 5 is the day that a cartoonist predicted a catastrophic earthquake in Japan. However, the meteorological agency stated, "The earthquake is merely a coincidence unrelated to the prediction."
According to foreign reports on the same day, the Japan Meteorological Administration indicated that there is no tsunami risk associated with the earthquake. The epicenter is estimated to be at a depth of 20 km. The meteorological administration initially announced the earthquake's magnitude as 5.3 but later adjusted it to 5.4.
The earthquake caused a shaking of intensity 5 strong on Akusekijima Island in the Tokara Islands, but no casualties have been confirmed.
The intensity scale of the Japan Meteorological Administration is a relative concept that expresses how people in the affected area feel the earthquake and the degree of shaking of surrounding objects, unlike the magnitude which indicates absolute strength.
Intensity 5 strong is a level of shaking at which most people would find it difficult to walk without holding onto something.
According to Kyodo News, over 1,300 small earthquakes have occurred on the Tokara Islands from the 21st of last month until 7 a.m. on the same day.
The Tokara Islands experienced over 300 small earthquakes in both December 2021 and September 2023, but this recent earthquake significantly exceeds the number of existing swarm earthquakes.
As anxiety spread due to the series of earthquakes, 13 residents of Akusekijima evacuated to Kagoshima City the day before, and an additional 20 people are reported to be leaving the island.
Rumors circulated in places such as Hong Kong that a major earthquake would occur in Japan this July based on the comic "The Complete Version of the Future I Saw" by artist Ryo Tatsuki, even before the swarm of earthquakes around the Tokara Islands.
On social media, there were eerie stories suggesting that 4:18 a.m. on July 5 would be the time of a major earthquake.
At a press conference on the same day, the Japan Meteorological Administration emphasized that there is no relationship between the rumors of a major earthquake and the Tokara Islands earthquake.
An official from the meteorological administration noted, "In Japan, earthquakes of magnitude 1 or higher occur about 2,000 times a year, and can reach 6,500 times at their peak, so the prediction could be correct," but emphasized that even if an earthquake occurs as predicted, it would be coincidental and lacks scientific basis.
He stated, "An earthquake can happen in Japan anytime," and urged residents to be prepared.
Due to the influence of the major earthquake rumors, the number of Hong Kong residents visiting Japan in May decreased by 11.2% compared to the previous year, and inquiries about safety in Japan have reportedly increased among travel agencies in Korea.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan stated through its social media account that it urges its citizens to be especially cautious about natural disasters, including earthquakes.