5.9-Magnitude Quake Jolts Tokyo Region, More Than 20 Injured in Northeast Japan

5.9-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Eastern Japan, 23 Injured Across Four Prefectures

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan early Sunday, shaking Tokyo and surrounding areas and leaving at least 23 people injured, officials said. Most of the injuries were minor, and no tsunami threat was reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake originated in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of around 70 kilometres. The US Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 5.8.

The tremor was strongly felt in Tokyo and triggered emergency earthquake alerts on mobile phones. Officials said the affected region is prone to frequent seismic activity.

23 Injured Across Four Prefectures

According to local officials, nine people were injured in Saitama, nine in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki.

Many of the injuries occurred when residents were startled awake and fell out of bed or collided with furniture and doors while attempting to move quickly.

In Yokohama, an elderly woman in her 80s reportedly suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed.

Despite the strong shaking in the Tokyo region, there were no immediate reports of major structural damage.

Train Services Disrupted

The earthquake caused delays on express trains connecting Tokyo with Narita Airport, as well as some local services in northeastern parts of the country.

Shinkansen bullet train services, however, continued to operate normally, according to East Japan Railway.

In Tokyo’s Koto ward, an underground water pipe ruptured, sending water onto a road. The leak was later repaired and the flow stopped.

Around 460 homes in Tokyo temporarily lost electricity, but power was restored later on Sunday morning, according to TEPCO Power Grid.

Nuclear Facilities Report No Problems

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no reported abnormalities at nuclear power plants or other facilities handling nuclear materials in the affected region.

The Japanese government also established a task force to assess any potential damage.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said authorities were monitoring the situation and coordinating the response.

Japan Remains Highly Earthquake-Prone

The latest earthquake comes after a much stronger 7.1-magnitude quake struck Japan’s southern Kyushu region last month. That earthquake killed 38 people and injured 364 others.

More than 1,500 buildings were destroyed and nearly 20,000 others were damaged in that disaster.

Sunday’s earthquake caused significantly less damage, but the tremor once again highlighted Japan’s exposure to frequent and sometimes powerful earthquakes.