A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki prefecture in the early hours of Sunday, shaking Tokyo and surrounding areas and leaving at least 37 people injured across five prefectures, most with minor wounds.
The quake hit at around 2 a.m. local time at a depth of roughly 68 to 70 kilometres, with a lower-5 intensity recorded in parts of Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba, and central Tokyo. No tsunami warning was issued. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the magnitude at 5.8. Injuries were reported in Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Ibaraki, including a woman in her 80s who suffered a hip fracture in Yokohama.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi established a task force to assess damage. No anomalies were found at the Tokai No. 2, Fukushima Daiichi, or Fukushima Daini nuclear plants. Train services to Narita Airport faced delays, though Shinkansen lines continued operating. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of possible aftershocks over the coming days. Japan experienced a devastating 7.1-magnitude quake in its southwest in late July. A separate magnitude 5.5 quake off Hachijo Island was recorded on Thursday evening.