A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday with its epicenter in Shizuoka Prefecture, injuring dozens and disrupting train services; no tsunami warning was issued. [E1][E3][E10]
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck at 1:04 a.m.; it put the depth at about 40 kilometres in western Shizuoka Prefecture. [E2][E8]
Authorities reported no deaths. They said storefront windows shattered, items fell from shelves and transport was disrupted in parts of the country. [E4]
Injury counts differed: an emergency official in Aichi said authorities had received 16 reports of mostly minor injuries; Chunichi Shimbun and Tokai Television separately reported at least 24 people hurt across Aichi and Shizuoka; Nippon.com reported 21 injuries; and Kyodo, cited by Al Jazeera, said more than 20 people were injured in the two prefectures. [E5][E6][E12][E9]
Local media and authorities said people fled buildings during the shaking. [E7] The Japan Meteorological Agency warned people to be ready for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially over the next two to three days. [E11]
Nippon.com said the quake measured up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on Japan’s seismic-intensity scale, and jolted Aichi Prefecture and other parts of central Japan. [E12]