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Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Injures 12 in Tokyo and Eastern Japan
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Injures 12 in Tokyo and Eastern Japan

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Japan, with its epicenter in southern Ibaraki prefecture.
  • The tremor caused at least 12 minor injuries and led to delays on several train lines in Tokyo.
  • Authorities have ruled out a tsunami risk, but are cautioning residents about potential aftershocks.

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted eastern Japan on Sunday, August 23, 2026, causing minor injuries and disrupting transportation in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the epicenter was located in the southern part of Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of 68 kilometers, but confirmed there was no tsunami risk.

The 23 districts of Tokyo registered tremors up to lower 5 on the seismic intensity scale.

— Sanae TakaichiPrime Minister's report on the seismic intensity experienced in Tokyo.

The earthquake, which occurred around 2:00 AM local time, was felt strongly across Tokyo's 23 districts, registering up to a lower 5 on the seismic intensity scale. Similar intensity levels were recorded in Ibaraki, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures. The Saitama prefectural government reported nine individuals with minor injuries, while fire departments in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, confirmed three more.

Transportation services experienced significant disruptions, with JR East reporting temporary suspensions and delays on multiple lines within the metropolitan area. Technical teams were dispatched to inspect the tracks, a standard procedure in Japan following seismic activity of this magnitude. Fortunately, Japan's nuclear regulatory authorities conducted checks on the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki and detected no anomalies. TEPCO also reported no impacts on its main facilities.

The agency confirmed that the earthquake did not generate any tsunami risk in the area.

— Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)Official statement regarding tsunami risk following the earthquake.

The JMA has advised the public to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks of similar intensity within the next week, particularly in the immediate two to three days. Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity and has robust infrastructure designed to withstand such events. This earthquake follows a magnitude 7.1 tremor that struck southwestern Japan on July 28, which resulted in 38 fatalities.

The public is urged to remain cautious due to the possibility of another earthquake of similar intensity during the next week.

— Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)Warning issued to the public about potential aftershocks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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