Tokyo, 23 Aug. (LaPresse) – A moderate earthquake struck eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, in the early hours of Sunday, injuring more than 30 people, most of them slightly, officials said. There was no tsunami warning. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, with its epicentre in the southern prefecture of Ibaraki at a depth of 70 kilometres. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 5.8. At least 37 people were injured across five prefectures in the region: 15 in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki, according to reports from prefectural authorities and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Most of the injured sustained injuries from falling or bumping into furniture or doors, having been taken by surprise by the earthquake whilst asleep and getting out of bed in a panic. “The government has set up a task force to assess the extent of any damage,” said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents in the area to be on the lookout for another moderate-intensity earthquake for about a week. The quake triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones and also shook Tokyo significantly. There were no reports of abnormalities at nuclear power stations or other facilities handling nuclear materials, the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported. Last month, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the island of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, killing 38 people and injuring 364.
Japan: a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck overnight, with injuries reported in Tokyo as well
Tokyo, 23 Aug. (LaPresse) – A moderate earthquake struck eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, in the early hours of Sunday, injuring more than 30 people, most of them slightly, officials said. There was no tsunami warning. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, with its epicentre in the southern prefecture of Ibaraki at a depth of 70 kilometres. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 5.8. At least 37 people were injured across five prefectures in the region: 15 in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki, according to reports from prefectural authorities and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Most of the injured sustained injuries from falling or bumping into furniture or doors, having been taken by surprise by the earthquake whilst asleep and getting out of bed in a panic. “The government has set up a task force to assess the extent of any damage,” said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The Japan Meteorological Agency has urged residents in the area to be on the lookout for another moderate-intensity earthquake for about a week. The quake triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones and also shook Tokyo significantly. There were no reports of abnormalities at nuclear power stations or other facilities handling nuclear materials, the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported. Last month, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the island of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, killing 38 people and injuring 364.