TOKYO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck Akusekijima in Toshima village of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture on Thursday, the country's weather agency said.

The temblor occurred at 4:13 p.m. local time, originating at a depth of approximately 20 km, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The quake's epicenter was located at a latitude of 29.3 degrees north and a longitude of 129.5 degrees east.

Seismic intensity 6-lower on the Japanese scale of 7 was observed in Akusekijima, intensity 3 in Kodakarajima, and weaker shaking (intensity 2 or 1) was recorded across a broader area.

Earthquake activity in the Tokara Islands region has been extremely active since June 21, with multiple quakes reaching intensity 5-lower. The number of earthquakes with intensity 1 or greater has significantly surpassed previous seismic episodes in the area.

According to the JMA, this was the first time a seismic intensity of 6-lower has ever been recorded in Toshima village since records began in 1919. The agency has warned of the possibility of additional strong quakes around intensity 5-upper in the coming days. ■