Moderate Quake Shakes Japan, Scores Injured

A moderate earthquake jolted eastern Japan early Sunday, injuring more than 30 people and disrupting transportation. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a preliminary magnitude of 5.9, with its epicenter in Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers. The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 5.8.

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Most of the injured were hurt when they fell down or hit themselves against furniture or doors as they were caught off guard by the quake while sleeping and got out of bed in a panic.

Officials confirmed at least 37 injuries across five prefectures, including Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Ibaraki. Most injuries were minor, resulting from people falling or hitting objects as they reacted in panic to the shaking while sleeping. One woman in her 80s in Yokohama suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed.

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The government set up a task force to assess the extent of possible damage.

The tremor caused delays on express and local train lines serving Tokyo and northeastern regions, though Shinkansen bullet trains operated normally. The government established a task force to assess damage. Residents were cautioned about the possibility of aftershocks for about a week. No anomalies were reported at nuclear power plants.

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The Japan Meteorological Agency urged the residents in the area to use caution against another possible moderate earthquake for about a week.