Magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Mt. Fuji injures 10, disrupts trains

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near Mt. Fuji in central Japan on Friday evening, causing minor injuries to 10 people and shaking the central and eastern regions, including the Tokyo metropolitan area. The earthquake, which occurred around 10:28 p.m. local time, registered a lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Yamanashi Prefecture. This level of shaking is the strongest recorded in the prefecture since 1924, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. However, authorities confirmed that the temblor was not linked to any volcanic activity at Mt. Fuji.

Debris was reported scattered across roads in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, following the quake. In response to the seismic event, Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and Shizuoka stations were temporarily suspended. Operator JR Central reported that services resumed in the early hours of Saturday, by which time around 22,000 passengers had been affected by the disruption.