The quake struck southern Ibaraki early Sunday, shaking Tokyo and surrounding prefectures and disrupting some train services.
WEB DESK: A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Japan near Tokyo early Sunday, injuring at least 37 people and disrupting some transport services across the capital region, Japanese authorities said.
The earthquake struck southern Ibaraki Prefecture at around 2am local time on August 23, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The quake occurred at a depth of about 68 kilometres.
37 people injured
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 37 injuries across five prefectures, including Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba and Ibaraki. Most injuries were minor and occurred when people fell or collided with objects after being startled by the shaking.
One of the more serious cases involved an elderly woman in her 80s in Yokohama who suffered a hip injury after falling from her bed, according to local authorities and media reports.
Strong shaking felt across Tokyo region
The earthquake was strongly felt in Tokyo and surrounding areas.
The JMA recorded a maximum intensity of lower 5 on Japan’s seven-level seismic intensity scale in parts of Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba and Tokyo.
The shaking triggered Japan’s earthquake early-warning systems, including alerts on mobile phones and public warning announcements.
No tsunami threat reported
The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was no tsunami threat following the earthquake.
The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.8, while Japan’s meteorological agency reported a magnitude of 5.9. Such differences can occur because agencies use different measurement methods and data.
Train services disrupted
The earthquake also affected transportation in the Tokyo region.
Some regional train services were temporarily disrupted, although bullet train services continued operating normally, according to reports.
A water pipe also ruptured in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, with authorities investigating whether the damage was directly related to the earthquake.
A building in Saitama Prefecture suffered minor damage, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Authorities warn of aftershocks
Japanese authorities have urged residents in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain alert for possible aftershocks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that additional strong tremors could occur during the following week. It also raised concerns about possible landslides in areas affected by recent heavy rainfall.
Authorities have continued assessing the extent of damage following the earthquake.
