A moderate earthquake shook eastern Japan injuring more than 30 in Tokyo on early Sunday registering a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Tokyo and three prefectures. Officials said that the injuries were minor and no risk of tsunami was forecast.
The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, briefly disrupted train service and rattled residents awake, but caused no reported damage to nuclear facilities in the region.
It struck southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers, injuring at least 37 including 15 in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki – according to prefectural officials and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Most of them were hurt falling or bumping into furniture while startled awake.
The quake registered as a lower 5 in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, and some municipalities in Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures.
Express trains to Tokyo and Narita Airport saw delays, though Shinkansen bullet trains continued running normally.
A footage showed, an underground water pipe ruptured in Koto ward of eastern Tokyo pouring water onto the road.
A task force has been set up to assess the extent of possible damage, said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi taking to X.
The national Meteorological agency has issued an alert warning residents of another moderate quake over the next week.
Last month, earthquake of magnitude 7.1 quake struck the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu, killing 38 people and injuring 364.