A powerful tremor shook eastern Japan early Sunday. The shaking reached Tokyo and nearby areas. Residents woke suddenly and moved to safer spots. Officials reported 23 people injured across the region. Most injuries remained minor. Authorities also confirmed no risk of a tsunami.
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake at a preliminary magnitude of 5.9. Its epicentre lay in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometres. The US Geological Survey measured the same event at magnitude 5.8.
Injuries occurred in four prefectures. Nine people suffered harm in Saitama. Another nine reported injuries in Kanagawa. Four people were hurt in Chiba. One person was injured in Ibaraki. Many fell or bumped into furniture and doors after the sudden shaking. They left their beds in haste when the tremor began.
Train services faced disruption. Express trains between Tokyo and Narita Airport ran late. Other local services in northeastern areas also experienced delays. In contrast, Shinkansen bullet trains continued without interruption. East Japan Railway confirmed normal operations for the high-speed lines.
The tremor triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones. Strong shaking was felt across Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on X that the government had formed a task force. The team began assessing any possible damage.
In addition, an underground water pipe broke in Tokyo’s Koto ward. Water spilled onto a road. Repair teams fixed the pipe quickly and stopped the leak. Traffic continued normally on roads in nearby cities such as Mito and Saitama.
Authorities checked nuclear facilities as well. The Nuclear Regulation Authority found no abnormalities at about a dozen plants or related sites.
This latest quake follows a strong magnitude 7.1 event that struck the Kumamoto area on Kyushu last month. That earlier tremor left hundreds of people injured.
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