5.9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, dozens injured

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake jolted the region near Tokyo early Sunday, injuring at least 37 people and disrupting transportation. The tremor caused intense shaking in the Japanese capital and its environs, triggering public warnings and alerts on smartphones. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the earthquake struck the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture at 2 a.m. local time, at a depth of 68 kilometers. The US Geological Survey estimated the magnitude at 5.8. No tsunami concerns were raised.

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The quake struck the southern part of the Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo at 2am local time.

Officials reported that the majority of injuries were minor. One notable case involved an elderly woman in Yokohama who fell and hurt her hip while trying to get out of bed after the quake. Regional train services in Tokyo experienced disruptions on Sunday morning. A building in Saitama sustained minor damage.

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There were no concerns about a tsunami.

Authorities are investigating a water main rupture in the capital to determine if it was linked to the earthquake. The weather agency also cautioned about an increased risk of landslides due to the earthquake potentially loosening soil, which had been affected by torrential rains the previous day. Residents were also warned of the possibility of strong aftershocks in the coming days.

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at least 37 people had suffered minor injuries.