An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan early Sunday, causing injuries in prefectures neighboring Tokyo and disrupting transportation services. The 2:00 a.m. quake originated in Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 68 kilometers and did not trigger a tsunami, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Shaking Hits Tokyo and Neighboring Prefectures
The early morning temblor registered a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Ibaraki Prefecture and central Tokyo. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a lower 5 intensity produces shaking strong enough to frighten most people, requiring them to hold on to something stable while objects may fall from shelves. In central Tokyo, the same intensity was recorded in Adachi Ward, while other parts of the capital registered lower intensities. An intensity of lower 5 was also recorded in parts of Saitama and Chiba prefectures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency earthquake alert immediately when the quake struck at approximately 2:00 a.m. Sunday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on social media that she had instructed officials to ascertain the extent of the damage from the quake and provide timely information to the public.
Injuries and Infrastructure Disruptions
Among the injured were a young man and a woman in her 70s in Saitama, north of Tokyo, alongside nine individuals in Kanagawa and four in Chiba prefectures. Regional reporting noted that three people were injured in Kawasaki, just south of the capital.
Transportation networks experienced immediate delays. The start of some train services was delayed following the quake, and JR East and other operators ran trains at reduced speeds. Express services operated by Tobu Railway remained halted as lines underwent safety checks, while the Keisei Line connecting Ueno in central Tokyo to Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture returned to normal operations after 9:40 a.m.
In Tokyo’s Koto Ward, a water pipe ruptured, prompting metropolitan authorities to investigate whether the incident was connected to the temblor.
Nuclear Facilities Report No Abnormalities
Operators confirmed that major nuclear facilities in the affected zone sustained no operational issues. Operators of the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, as well as the disaster-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and the nearby Fukushima Daini plant in northeastern Japan, reported that no abnormalities were detected.
Aftershock Warnings and Continued Vigilance
The weather agency urged the public to remain alert for potential aftershocks over the coming week.
Sunday’s earthquake was felt across a wide swath of the country, impacting both northeastern and central Japan, though the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that no tsunami was triggered.
