Strong Kanto quake triggers warnings of similar shaking over next week
Tokyo and the wider Kanto region were jolted awake early Sunday by the magnitude 5.9 earthquake, which registered up to a lower 5 on Japan's seven-point seismic scale.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Tokyo and the Kanto region on Sunday, prompting warnings from authorities that similar strong shaking could occur in the coming week. The quake, centered in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 68 kilometers, resulted in at least 37 injuries across multiple prefectures including Tokyo, Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa.
The Japan Meteorological Agency classified the shaking as lower 5 on its seven-point shindo scale, which can cause objects to fall and people to need assistance remaining steady. The shaking lasted up to a minute in some areas and prompted earthquake early warnings on mobile phones at around 2 a.m. Local officials reported various damages, from a partial ceiling collapse at Ushiku City Hall to elevator entrapments and disrupted train services.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the need for vigilance and accurate information dissemination as officials confirm the full extent of the damage.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
