Magnitude 5.7 earthquake strikes central Japan, injuring more than 20 people
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, injuring more than 20 people in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, according to local media and authorities.
The tremor hit 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. It registered an upper 5 on Japan's seven-level seismic intensity scale in Chita City, Aichi Prefecture.
More than 20 people were injured in the Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, the Kyodo news agency cited authorities as saying. 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. No abnormalities were detected at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, its operator, Chubu Electric Power Co., said.
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.
The central government set up a liaison office to coordinate its response to the earthquake.