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A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, injuring more than 20 people in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency and local authorities.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck central Japan early Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Japanese media reported dozens of injuries.
The magnitude 5.7 quake struck at 1:04am local time on Sunday (16:00 GMT Saturday) at a depth of about 40km (25 miles) in western Shizuoka Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
More than 20 people were injured in the Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, the Kyodo news agency cited authorities as saying.
A wide area near Aichi Prefecture was affected, including the city of Hamamatsu, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and the prefectures of Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, and Gifu.
Japanese television showed shattered shop windows and shards of glass scattered across streets. A bookstore was left with mounds of books that had fallen from the shelves.
Some of the injured had fallen on the stairs as they tried to flee, the Associated Press news agency reported.
No tsunami warning was issued, Kyodo reported.
The meteorological agency warned people to be ready for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially the next two to three days.
"Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall," agency official Ayataka Ebita told reporters.
He said no apparent change had been detected so far in the Nankai Trough, an underwater ocean trench where two major tectonic plates meet under parts of Japan, where scientists say a megaquake could occur.
Some local train services were suspended, while the Shinkansen bullet trains were running at slower speeds in affected areas as a precautionary measure.
Trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo and Osaka, were delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations after safety checks, rail operator JR Central said.
No abnormalities were detected at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka, according to its operator, Chubu Electric Power Co.
The nuclear power station sits near the projected source area of a potential Nankai Trough megaquake.
The weather agency said the possibility that Sunday's quake was linked to a possible Nankai Trough megaquake was "low."
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.3 hit Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, at around 10:53 a.m. on Sunday with an intensity of 4 recorded in Kumamoto, Uto and Uki.
The earthquake injured more than 20 people and disrupted rail services in central Japan, while authorities warned of possible strong aftershocks in the coming days.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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