TOKYO, July 3, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Japanese authorities urged on Thursday the 89 residents of a small southern island to evacuate after a strong earthquake, the latest of more than 1,000 jolts in recent days to hit the area.

Residents were urged to leave their homes and evacuate to "a school playground in Akuseki Island", a municipal official told AFP. It is part of the Tokara island chain.

The island chain, south of Kyushu region, has been rocked by more than 1,000 quakes in the past two weeks.

No major damage has been reported.

On Thursday a large quake with a magnitude of 5.5 struck near Akuseki.

Seven of the 12 remote Tokara Islands are inhabited, with around 700 residents in total.