Earthquake of magnitude 5 or above hits Aichi for the first time in 30 years, causing 24 serious and minor injuries in 3 prefectures - Japan Meteorological Agency ``It's different from the Nankai Trough''

At around 1:04 a.m. on the 8th, there was an earthquake in Chita City, Aichi Prefecture, with an intensity of 5 or above. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the depth of the epicenter was 41 km, and the magnitude of the earthquake (magnitude M) was estimated to be 5.7. The agency initially announced that the epicenter was in western Shizuoka Prefecture, but after careful review, it revised the epicenter to be in eastern Aichi Prefecture on the 9th.

According to Aichi Prefecture and other authorities, a woman in her 50s from Hekinan City fell while evacuating outside and fractured her left ankle, and 18 other people suffered minor injuries. Three people in Shizuoka Prefecture suffered minor injuries. On the 9th, one new person with minor injuries was confirmed in both Shizuoka and Nagano prefectures. A total of 24 people were injured in the three prefectures due to the earthquake.

The showroom of an imported car dealer in Toyohashi City, which experienced a magnitude 4 earthquake, suffered damage, with the 4-meter-tall windows facing the prefectural road being shattered, leaving only a portion intact. Manabu Kurayanagi (59), head of the operating company's management headquarters, said, ``It was a shock, but it was during the night, so we were fortunate that no employees were injured.We would like to reopen after confirming safety.''

The Tokaido Shinkansen will operate at reduced speeds between Shizuoka and Gifu Hashima from the first train until around 9 a.m. to ensure safety. According to JR Central, 29 up and down trains were delayed by up to 52 minutes.

Ayaki Ebita, head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring Division at the agency, held a press conference and explained that the epicenter of the earthquake was inside the ocean-side (Philippine Sea) plate that subducts beneath the land-side plate, and that the mechanism is different from the Nankai Trough earthquake, which occurs when the boundary between two plates suddenly slides. Because M is relatively small, it is unlikely that it will cause any significant changes in the boundaries between the plates. ``In areas where the shaking was strong, please be careful of earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of 5-plus over the next week.''

This is the first time in about 30 years that a seismic intensity of 5 or higher was observed in Aichi Prefecture, since an earthquake (M5.9) in the eastern part of the prefecture in March 1997. The reason the shaking was stronger than in western Shizuoka Prefecture is believed to be due to the influence of the ground.

The seismic intensity in major areas is as follows.

Earthquake intensity 5+ = Chita City, Aichi Prefecture

Seismic intensity lower 5 = Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, Uriki Village, Nagano Prefecture, Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, Hamamatsu City

Seismic intensity 4 = Nagoya City, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kisosaki Town, Mie Prefecture.