Tokyo [Japan], August 23 – A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Japan early Sunday rattling Tokyo and surrounding areas and injuring at least 37 people, officials said. There was no tsunami threat.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake was centred in southern Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of about 70 kms (42 miles). The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.8.
Officials reported 15 injuries in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki. Most injuries were minor and occurred when people fell or struck furniture and doors after being startled by the shaking while asleep.
An elderly woman in her 80s suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed in Yokohama the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
A 23-year-old man told the Asahi newspaper that he felt a strong vertical jolt shortly after receiving an earthquake alert while shopping in Tokyo’s Taito district. He said he feared being struck by merchandise falling from shelves.
The earthquake also disrupted express train services connecting Tokyo and Narita Airport as well as local trains in north-eastern areas. East Japan Railway Co. said Shinkansen bullet train services were operating normally.
