Several dozen residents have evacuated from two islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, as a series of tremors continue to shake the region. Despite the ongoing seismic activity, 64 people remain on the islands, raising concerns about the safety of the remaining residents.

On Friday, a ferry carrying five evacuees left Akusekijima Island, part of the Tokara Islands, as the third group of residents to flee the area. These evacuees, aged from their 20s to their 70s, were transported to Kagoshima City, where accommodations were arranged by the village of Toshima. According to local reports, 44 residents from Akusekijima and 15 from Kodakarajima had already evacuated by ferry last Friday and Sunday, with two more individuals leaving on their own.

As of yesterday, 20 residents remained on Akusekijima, while 44 stayed on Kodakarajima. The tremors have been frequent, with 1,720 earthquakes recorded in the area between June 21 and 11 a.m. local time yesterday, all measuring at least one on the Japanese seismic scale. The intensity and frequency of the quakes have prompted local authorities to consider extending the evacuation period.

Toshima Mayor Genichiro Kubo addressed the situation at a press conference, stating, "We called for people to evacuate for one week, but we will have to discuss again how long the evacuation period should be." The mayor emphasized the need for careful monitoring of the seismic activity before making any decisions about the duration of the evacuation.

Meanwhile, the village has decided to proceed with its plan to conduct early voting for the House of Councillors election on July 17, three days earlier than the official election date. The village office in Kagoshima City will accept early voting ballots through July 16, ensuring that residents can still participate in the democratic process despite the ongoing crisis.

The Akusekijima Compulsory Education School, which had 14 students, has started remote lessons using tablet computers on Tuesday. This move ensures that the education of the evacuees continues, even in the face of the ongoing disaster.

The situation on the islands remains unpredictable, with the potential for further tremors and the uncertainty of when it will be safe for the remaining residents to return. As the community grapples with the challenges of the evacuation, local authorities continue to work closely with emergency services to ensure the safety and well-being of all affected individuals.