悪石島あくせきじま 住民じゅうみんを診察しんさつの医師いし「ストレスで腹痛はらいたや吐き気はきけの症状しょうじょうも」

As earthquakes continue on Akusekijima in Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture, a doctor who entered the area to provide medical care pointed out the need for mental health care and economic support, noting that in addition to the fear of the tremors, economic anxiety is also causing stress, and physical symptoms such as stomach pain and nausea have begun to appear.

In Akusekijima, Toshima Village, where active seismic activity continues, while residents are evacuating off the island, 20 people are still living on the island due to work and other reasons.

Dr. Naoki Yamada from Amami Oshima Prefectural Oshima Hospital has been conducting regular medical rounds twice a month on islands such as Akusekijima and Kodakarajima since April this year. For three days until the 8th, he visited Akusekijima to provide medical examinations and health consultations for the residents.

According to Dr. Yamada, most of the residents he examined expressed not only fear of the tremors but also economic anxiety about the uncertain future, as they are unable to do their usual work such as running inns or fishing. Some residents also reported symptoms like lack of sleep, loss of appetite, and stomachaches or nausea caused by stress.

Dr. Yamada said, Mental anxiety is starting to manifest as physical symptoms as well.

Some people are feeling excited right now, but Im worried that if the earthquakes continue, theres also a risk of falling into a depressive tendency, such as losing motivation or appetite.

Many residents are expressing concerns about their daily lives, and I think economic support will be necessary in the future.

He added, This time, just listening to their stories seemed to relieve a lot of stress, so I want to continue making rounds and supporting the residents with their anxieties.

Toshima Village: 1,720 earthquakes of seismic intensity 1 or higher as of 11 a.m. on the 9th. Around Akusekijima and Kodakarajima in the Tokara Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture, seismic activity has intensified since June 21, and so far, a maximum intensity of lower 6 has been observed on Akusekijima.

On July 6th, two consecutive earthquakes with a strong intensity of lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale were observed on Akusekijima, and on the 7th, there was a magnitude 5 earthquake.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 1 occurred, and a seismic intensity of lower 5 was observed on Akusekijima.

Active seismic activity continues, with earthquakes registering a seismic intensity of 1 or higher occurring 60 times on the 7th, 39 times on the 8th, and reaching a total of 1,720 times as of 11 a.m. on the 9th.

In the waters near the Tokara Islands, there was also active seismic activity in 2023 and 2021, but the number of earthquakes this time greatly exceeds previous cases.

The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging people to be cautious of earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of around lower 6 for the time being, as shallow epicenters and proximity to observation points can result in stronger shaking.