Earthquake strikes Japan, injuring at least 37 people

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Japan on the morning of August 23, shaking eastern regions and the Tokyo area and leaving at least 37 people injured, most of them with minor injuries.

The epicenter was located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of about 70 kilometers. The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.8. No tsunami warning was issued, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Injuries were reported in five prefectures: 15 people in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki. Most suffered minor injuries after falling or being struck by furniture. In Yokohama, an 80-year-old woman fell out of bed and seriously injured her hip.

The tremors disrupted transportation services, with express trains to Narita Airport and local lines experiencing delays. However, Shinkansen services were not interrupted. In the Koto area, a water pipe burst, flooding a road, but the leak was quickly repaired.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the establishment of a special task force to assess the damage. The Meteorological Agency warned that moderate aftershocks could occur over the next week.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities had been detected at nuclear facilities.

By Jeyhun Aghazada