This series of earthquakes has reignited fears regarding Japan’s vulnerability to seismic events, given its history of such occurrences.
Photo : AP
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Japan, shaking Tokyo and surrounding areas early on Sunday. The quake struck at about 2 am local time, with its epicentre in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of about 70km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 5.8.
There was no tsunami threat, authorities said.
The earthquake registered lower 5 on Japan’s seven-point seismic intensity scale in parts of Tokyo, Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures. At least five people were injured in Ibaraki, Chiba and Saitama, according to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Officials said further injuries were being investigated.
The earthquake triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones and was strongly felt across Tokyo and neighbouring areas. NHK footage showed traffic continuing normally on roads in cities including Mito and Saitama, although the tremor caused some disruption to transport.
Express trains serving Tokyo and Narita Airport, as well as local services in northeastern Japan, were delayed. Shinkansen bullet trains were operating normally, East Japan Railway Company said.
In Tokyo’s eastern Koto ward, an underground water pipe ruptured, sending water onto a road, NHK reported. About 460 homes in Tokyo temporarily lost power, according to TEPCO Power Grid. Electricity had been restored by Sunday morning.
There were no reports of abnormalities at about a dozen nuclear power plants and other facilities handling nuclear materials, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had established a task force to assess any damage.
Sunday’s earthquake comes weeks after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on Kyushu on 28 July. The quake caused widespread destruction, with the death toll and number of injuries reported in the aftermath.
The latest information provided by Japanese authorities said 38 people were killed and 364 injured. More than 1,500 buildings were destroyed and nearly 20,000 others damaged.
One of the worst-hit locations was the Aeon Mall shopping centre in Kashima, which was crowded with thousands of people when the earthquake struck.
About 3,000 customers were evacuated to a car park before a gas explosion occurred elsewhere in the mall, where workers were still present.