Japan's Meteorological Agency says hundreds of earthquakes have been occurring in waters near the Tokara Islands in the country's southwest since April 9.
Some of the jolts registered 3 or 4 on the Japanese intensity scale of zero to 7 on Akuseki-jima island and elsewhere. The island chain is located in Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture.
Agency officials say 199 earthquakes with an intensity of one or higher occurred between late Friday night and 6:30 a.m. Monday.
Swarms of earthquakes have occurred in the waters adjacent to the island chain in the past. Those groups of jolts continued for several days.
Agency officials are calling on islanders to exercise caution, as the current series of quakes may continue for some time, NHK reported.
