Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits central Japan, dozens injured
Quick Look
- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, injuring dozens of people.
- The epicenter was in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of about 40 kilometers.
- The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was no tsunami threat.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The earthquake struck at 1:04 am local time in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of approximately 40 kilometers. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported upper 5 intensity in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, and lower 5 intensity in parts of Aichi, Nagano, and Gifu prefectures.
A strong earthquake of preliminary magnitude 5.7 struck central Japan early Sunday, prompting authorities to set up an emergency response office. Japanese media reported that dozens of people were injured in the tremor.
The earthquake struck at 1:04 am local time, with its epicentre in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of approximately 40 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as reported by Japanese daily The Mainichi. The tremor registered an intensity of upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. Lower 5 intensity was recorded in parts of Aichi, Nagano and Gifu prefectures, indicating that the shaking was felt across a wide area of central Japan.
Smaller aftershocks followed the main earthquake, according to the reports. The Japanese government established a liaison office to coordinate its response to the earthquake and assess the situation in the affected areas. The JMA said the earthquake posed no tsunami threat.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Smaller aftershocks will continue to follow the main earthquake.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What is the exact number of people injured?
- What is the extent of property damage?
- Were there any fatalities?
