More than 20 people have been injured after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake shook central Japan early on Sunday, shattering shop windows and sending people out of buildings, according to local media and authorities.
The quake struck at 1:04am local time (16:00 GMT Saturday) at a depth of about 40 kilometres (25 miles) in western Shizuoka Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Officials said the injuries were reported in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. A wide area was affected, including the city of Hamamatsu, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, Yamanashi, home to Mount Fuji, and Gifu. No tsunami warning was issued, and the quake was not felt in Tokyo, which is far from the epicentre.
Shattered glass and disrupted train services
Television footage showed shattered shop windows and glass scattered across streets, while a bookstore was left with piles of books that had fallen from its shelves. Reports said some of the injured had fallen on stairs while trying to escape.
Some local train services were suspended, and Shinkansen bullet trains ran at slower speeds in affected areas as a precaution. Rail operator JR Central said the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, was delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations after safety checks.
Agency warns of possible strong quakes this week
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents to be ready for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially over the next two to three days. “Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall,” agency official Ayataka Ebita told reporters.
Ebita said no apparent change had so far been detected in the Nankai Trough, an underwater ocean trench where two major tectonic plates meet under parts of Japan and where scientists say a megaquake could occur.
