Japan Orders Evacuation of Akuseki Island After 1,000+ Earthquakes Jolt Region

Over 1,000 earthquakes have struck Japan’s remote Tokara island chain since June 21. The latest—a magnitude 5.5 quake—forced the evacuation of all 89 residents of Akuseki Island. While no major damage or tsunami threat has been reported, authorities are urging continued caution amid fears of more tremors or landslides. Japan’s Meteorological Agency says it’s impossible to predict earthquakes, even as conspiracy theories and manga predictions about a July 5 megaquake swirl online. Here’s the full story.