An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 shook eastern Japan early Sunday morning, impacting areas including Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency pinpointed the epicenter in southern Ibaraki prefecture, with a depth of 70 kilometers (42 miles). The U.S. Geological Survey reported the magnitude as 5.8.
Authorities reported at least 37 injuries across five prefectures: Tokyo recorded 15, Saitama nine, Kanagawa eight, Chiba four, and one in Ibaraki. Most injuries resulted from people falling or hitting furniture in moments of panic, often while they were asleep. A notable incident involved an elderly woman who sustained a serious hip injury from falling out of bed in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture.
One affected individual, a 23-year-old man shopping in Tokyo’s Taito district, experienced a sudden jolt after receiving an earthquake alert and expressed concern over merchandise falling from shelves.
The earthquake disrupted train services temporarily, causing delays for express trains in Tokyo and Narita Airport but left Shinkansen bullet trains unaffected, according to East Japan Railway Co.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a task force to evaluate potential damage, as stated on the social media platform X. The Japan Meteorological Agency advised residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks over the coming week.
Despite emergency alerts and significant shaking, traffic appeared normal in cities like Mito and Saitama, according to NHK public television. An underground water pipe burst in Tokyo’s Koto ward, but repairs were quickly made to halt the leak.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no anomalies were reported from nuclear power plants or related facilities. Last month, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto, Kyushu, resulted in 38 deaths and 364 injuries, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to seismic events.