Japan Earthquake: 23 Injured After 5.9-Magnitude Quake Shakes Tokyo Region
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan early Sunday, rattling Tokyo and nearby areas and injuring at least 23 people, officials said. Most of those hurt suffered minor injuries, while no tsunami threat was reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of about 70 kilometres. The US Geological Survey estimated the preliminary magnitude at 5.8. The tremor triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones and was strongly felt across Tokyo and surrounding prefectures.
Injuries Reported In Four Prefectures
Officials reported nine injuries each in Saitama and Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki. Many people were injured after being startled awake by the shaking and falling from their beds or colliding with furniture and doors while trying to get up.
An elderly woman in her 80s in Yokohama suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed, according to local reports.
There were no immediate reports of widespread structural damage.
Trains Delayed, Power Restored
The earthquake disrupted some express and local train services in and around Tokyo, including routes serving Narita Airport. Shinkansen bullet trains continued to operate normally.
An underground water pipe also ruptured in Tokyo’s Koto ward, flooding part of a road. The leak was subsequently repaired. The quake temporarily cut power to around 460 homes in Tokyo, but electricity was restored later in the morning, TEPCO Power Grid said.
No Nuclear Facility Abnormalities
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no abnormalities at nuclear power plants or other facilities handling nuclear materials. The government set up a task force to assess possible damage and coordinate the response. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were monitoring the situation.
Japan is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, and Sunday’s tremor was the latest reminder of the country’s frequent seismic activity.
Last month, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan’s Kyushu region, killing 38 people and injuring 364. The quake destroyed more than 1,500 buildings and damaged nearly 20,000 others.
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