Tokyo, August 23 (TNA) A strong 5.9-magnitude earthquake rattled eastern Japan early Sunday, sending shockwaves through parts of the Tokyo metropolitan area and briefly triggering panic among residents. Officials said the quake’s epicentre was in southern Ibaraki prefecture, at a depth of about 70 kilometres, and that no tsunami warning was issued.
Authorities said 23 people were injured across four prefectures, with the largest number of cases reported in Saitama and Kanagawa. Most of the injuries were minor and happened when people fell, struck furniture or were hurt while rushing out in fear as the tremor hit during the early hours.
Tokyo impact
The quake was felt strongly in Tokyo, where shaking in some areas reached a lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. In Koto ward, an underground water pipe burst and flooded part of a road, while about 460 homes lost power temporarily before electricity was restored later in the morning.
Transport disruption
Rail services in parts of the region were delayed after the earthquake, adding to the sense of alarm during the early-morning tremor. Local authorities said the immediate disruption was limited, and emergency teams moved quickly to assess damage and restore services.
Safety checks
Japan’s nuclear authorities said they found no abnormalities at nuclear power plants or facilities handling nuclear materials after the quake. The Meteorological Agency also warned residents to stay alert for possible aftershocks in the coming days, given the tremor's intensity.