Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Strikes Eastern Japan, Injuring 23

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale occurred early Sunday morning in eastern Japan, affecting the Tokyo area among other regions. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the quake originated in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of approximately 70 kilometres (42 miles). Fortunately, the event did not pose a tsunami threat.

In total, 23 people sustained injuries during the quake, primarily suffering from minor incidents such as falling or colliding with furniture, as many were taken by surprise while asleep. Reports indicate the injuries occurred across four prefectures—nine in Saitama, nine in Kanagawa, four in Chiba, and one from Ibaraki. Notably, an elderly woman in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture, was reported to have suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed.

The earthquake caused significant disruptions in transportation services. Delays were reported for express trains connecting Tokyo with Narita Airport and other regional services. Nevertheless, Shinkansen bullet trains maintained regular operations, as confirmed by East Japan Railway Company. Emergency earthquake alerts were activated on mobile devices, while reports indicated that traffic remained normal in nearby cities such as Mito and Saitama.

In the capital, a ruptured underground water pipe in the eastern ward of Koto led to water spilling onto the streets. However, workers swiftly addressed the issue and contained the leak. Additionally, power disruptions affected around 460 homes in Tokyo, but the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that electricity supply was restored by Sunday morning.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi noted on X that the government has assembled a task force dedicated to evaluating the full extent of the damage incurred from the earthquake. Importantly, the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no anomalies from nearby nuclear facilities, suggesting that the situation regarding nuclear safety remains stable.

Prior to this event, Japan faced a significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 in the Kumamoto region last month, resulting in the deaths of 38 people and injuries to 364 individuals. The earlier quake also led to extensive damage to infrastructure, including over 1,500 destroyed buildings and nearly 20,000 affected properties.