Japan earthquake injures 37; Russian bombs hit Ukraine cities

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan early Sunday, causing injuries and disrupting services in the Tokyo metropolitan area and surrounding prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the epicenter was in Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of about 70 kilometers, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured the magnitude at 5.8. Strong tremors were felt in Tokyo for approximately 20 seconds.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) and local authorities, at least 37 people sustained injuries in Tokyo and the prefectures of Saitama, Chiba, and Ibaraki. Tokyo reported the highest number of casualties with 15 injured. Initially, reports indicated only five people were affected. The seismic activity led to delays in express train services connecting to Tokyo and Narita airports, as well as local lines in the northeastern part of the country. However, bullet train services, Shinkansen, operated according to schedule, according to East Japan Railway Co.

No disruptions were reported at several Japanese nuclear power plants or other facilities utilizing nuclear technology. The earthquake did cause a temporary power outage for over 400 homes in Tokyo, which TEPCO Power Grid reported was resolved by Sunday morning. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the government had established a task force to fully assess the damage. This event follows a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in July that hit Kumamoto Prefecture, resulting in eight deaths and 364 injuries.

In a separate development, Russian forces reportedly launched attacks using three guided aerial bombs on Izium, a city in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, around 4:05 AM local time. The Izium administration reported damage to approximately 10 residential buildings in the northern part of the city and about 10 more residential buildings in the Verkhnie Selyshche settlement. A fire broke out at a small utility building, and power lines were also damaged. While no fatalities were reported, two individuals received medical assistance. Russian shelling was also reported in Kharkiv.

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The government has established a task force to fully assess the damage.