The earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.0 struck at 11:05 a.m. at a depth of approximately 20 kilometers, and measured an upper 5 on the 7-point Japanese seismic intensity scale on Akuseki Island in the village of Toshima, one of the Tokara Islands administered by Kagoshima Prefecture.

Noting that the region had seismic activity in the past, Shinya Tsukada, director of the agency's Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division, warned that earthquakes with intensity levels of around upper 5 at the maximum may occur again in nearby areas.

Seismic activity began increasing near the Tokara chain around noon Saturday. Over 232 quakes measuring 1 to 4 on the Japanese scale had been reported by noon Thursday.

Source: Mainichi, Jenjiji