More than 830 earthquakes, including minor ones, have occurred in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures in southwestern Japan since April 14, NHK reported Saaturday

People in the prefectures in southwestern Japan have been dealing with persistent tremors after deadly earthquakes hit the region last week.

Quakes with an intensity of one or more on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7 occurred 19 times between Friday midnight and 2 PM on Saturday.

On Friday, a magnitude-3.7 jolt shook the Kumamoto region at around 6:28 PM. It registered an intensity of 4 in Kumamoto City's Nishi ward.

Quakes with the highest intensity of 7 and those with an intensity of 6 plus occurred twice each. There were 3 tremors with an intensity of 6 minus.

Meteorological Agency officials say the seismic activity has not moved wider in Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures, but are calling on people to exercise caution against strong jolts.

The officials say damp air brought rain to wide areas of Kumamoto Prefecture shortly before noon on Saturday and more rain is expected through Saturday evening.

They say rainy weather will prevail over the next week.

They warn that the quakes and aftershocks have already loosened the ground in the hardest-hit areas, and are calling on people to be on the alert against further quakes, landslides and other disasters.

Source: MENA