Japan’s Meteorological Agency says a magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck central Japan at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday, leaving at least 22 people injured.
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A strong earthquake shook central Japan early Sunday, with Japan’s Meteorological Agency putting its preliminary magnitude at 5.7.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 5.5. Smaller aftershocks were also reported.
The quake struck at 1:04 a.m. and was located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) below the earth’s surface in Shizuoka Prefecture. Officials said the most violent shaking was felt in Aichi, a neighbouring region.
Local media reported at least 22 injuries. Footage described shattered store windows and debris on streets, including a bookstore with books thrown from shelves, and some injuries occurred when people fell from stairs while fleeing.
The affected area included Hamamatsu and nearby prefectures such as Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, along with Gifu and the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara. Aichi and Shizuoka are far enough from Tokyo that the quake was not felt there.
Shinkansen bullet trains in affected areas were reported to be running at slower speeds as a precautionary measure, with the risk that earthquakes can damage the railways trains run on.
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