First time in nearly 30 years! A magnitude 5 earthquake was detected in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, causing 20 injuries and causing some trains to be suspended.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on the 8th. For the first time in the past 30 years, Aichi Prefecture detected an earthquake with a magnitude of 5 or above. (Picture taken from Japan Meteorological Agency)

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, at 1:04 a.m. today (8th) (004 a.m. Taiwan time). The highest earthquake intensity measured in the county was 5 weak, while the neighboring Chita City in Aichi Prefecture measured a strong 5 earthquake. This is the first time Aichi has experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5 or above since March 1997, and the disaster was more severe than in Shizuoka Prefecture. At least 20 people were injured and trains were suspended.

According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at 34.9 degrees north latitude and 137.7 degrees east longitude in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture, with a focal depth of 40 kilometers. The Aichi Prefecture firefighting unit reported that more than 20 people were injured, including people who fell during the evacuation. The more serious case was a 50-year-old woman in Tokoname City who fell on the stairs and fractured her right ankle. There was also a 20-year-old foreign man in Obu City who was frightened by the earthquake and jumped from the second floor to escape, causing injuries to his right waist and other places.

The worst-hit place in Aichi Prefecture is Nagoya, where a total of 11 people were reported injured, including falling from beds, restaurant stairs, and being injured by falling clocks. In Shizuoka Prefecture, three women aged between their 30s and 90s were slightly injured. All the above-mentioned injuries were clear and non-life-threatening.

It is understood that the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture suffered a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on March 16, 1997. A magnitude 5 earthquake was detected in Toyohashi City. Since then, there have been no earthquakes above magnitude 5 in the local area for nearly 30 years. Although this earthquake occurred in the expected earthquake zone of the Nankai Trough earthquake, it was different from plate compression that can cause huge earthquakes. It was an internal plate earthquake.

Affected by the earthquake, JR Tokaido Line, Chuo Line, and Nagoya Railway have canceled today's first trains. They will resume operations in the morning after inspecting the tracks. Aichi Prefecture's Nagoya Seto Road, Chita Peninsula Road, Minami Chita Road, Chita Cross Road, and Chubu Centrair International Airport Link Road are also temporarily closed.