A strong earthquake shook central Japan early on Sunday, shattering shop windows, sending people running out of buildings and injuring more than 20, The Hindu reported, citing AP and local media. The Hindu put the number of injured at 22 or more.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) measured the quake at magnitude 5.7; the US Geological Survey put it at 5.5. It struck at 1:04 am, about 40 km below the surface in western Shizuoka Prefecture.
Where it was felt
The strongest shaking was in Aichi Prefecture, next to Shizuoka. Chita in Aichi recorded "upper 5" on Japan's seismic intensity scale, a level at which people may struggle to walk without holding on and unsecured furniture may topple, The Nation reported, citing Kyodo News. Parts of Aichi, Nagano and Gifu recorded "lower 5".
The quake was felt across a wide area, including Hamamatsu, the old capitals Kyoto and Nara, and Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, but not in Tokyo. Television footage showed glass strewn across streets, and in one bookshop books had flown off the shelves. Several of the injured fell on stairs while trying to escape.
Trains and the nuclear plant
Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains were delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations while lines were checked, The Nation reported, and some local lines were suspended. The government set up a liaison office to coordinate its response.
Chubu Electric Power, which runs the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station in Shizuoka, reported no abnormalities there. No tsunami warning was issued.
What next
The JMA warned people to brace for possible strong quakes over the next 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 change had been detected along the Nankai Trough, where scientists believe a very large earthquake could one day strike. The JMA considers a link between Sunday's quake and such a megaquake unlikely, The Nation reported.