An earthquake shook southwestern Japan on Saturday, registering a magnitude of 5.4. As the disaster hit the region, it sparked a wave of reactions online, with many pointing to a manga comic that had predicted such an event.

The viral rumours have created panic among tourists, with some airlines cancelling flights to Japanese cities due to low passenger demand.

A series of earthquakes near Japan’s remote Tokara Islands over the past two weeks, along with a major eruption from a long-dormant volcano earlier this week, has added to growing speculation about a disaster striking Japan on July 5.