A magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan early on Sunday, injuring at least 24 people, shattering windows in some buildings and temporarily disrupting rail services. The Japan Meteorological Agency did not issue a tsunami warning.
According to the agency, the earthquake struck at 1.04am local time on Sunday (8 November), or 12.04am Singapore time. Its epicentre was in western Shizuoka prefecture, at a depth of about 40 kilometres. Chita city in neighbouring Aichi prefecture recorded shaking of upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. Tremors were also felt in Tokyo and Osaka.
Kyodo News reported that at least three people were injured in Shizuoka prefecture and more than 20 in Aichi prefecture. Some were hurt after falling while evacuating.
AFP, citing local media reports, said at least 24 people were injured across the two prefectures, with no deaths reported so far.
A woman in her 90s in Shizuoka prefecture injured her shoulder after falling out of bed during the earthquake. Windows at a car dealership in Toyohashi city in Aichi prefecture shattered, while merchandise fell from shelves at a large bookshop in Toyota city.
The earthquake caused temporary delays or suspensions to some rail services. Tokaido Shinkansen trains ran at reduced speeds between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations, while some conventional rail services in Aichi prefecture were temporarily suspended.
Chubu Electric Power said no abnormalities had been detected so far at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki city, Shizuoka prefecture.
Separately, the Japan Meteorological Agency said a magnitude-4.3 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area at 10.53am on Sunday. No serious damage or casualties have been reported so far.
