Over 20 injured as 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolts Japan, tremors felt in Tokyo

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday, injuring over 20 people, most of them slightly, officials reported. The quake occurred in the southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers, a region frequently prone to seismic activity. US Geological Survey recorded a preliminary magnitude of 5.8.

The majority of injuries were sustained due to individuals falling or colliding with furniture or doors, as they were startled awake by the sudden tremors. One woman in her 80s sustained a serious hip injury after falling off her bed in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. The quake disrupted express trains serving Tokyo and Narita Airport, as well as local trains in northeastern regions, though Shinkansen bullet trains continued to operate normally.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi formed a task force to assess potential damage. Emergency alerts were issued on mobile phones, and the temblor notably shook Tokyo. An underground water pipe ruptured in Tokyo's eastern ward of Koto, causing water to leak onto the street, but the leak was subsequently halted. Blackouts affected approximately 460 homes in Tokyo, yet power was restored by early Sunday morning.

No nuclear facility reported anomalies. The Kumamoto earthquake last month caused 38 fatalities, 364 injuries, and extensive building damage.