Kathmandu, August 23
An earthquake struck Japan early Sunday, with a magnitude of 5.9 recorded in the eastern part of the country.
Strong tremors were felt in Tokyo and surrounding areas, according to local media reports.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 70 kilometres in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture. The US Geological Survey (USGS), however, measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.8.
At least five people were injured in Ibaraki, Chiba and Saitama prefectures. Local authorities said they were still collecting information as more people could have been injured.
Following the earthquake, some local train services, including an express train connecting Tokyo and Narita airports, were delayed. The Shinkansen bullet trains, however, continued to operate normally.
The earthquake also ruptured an underground water pipe in Tokyo’s Koto Ward and disrupted power supplies to around 460 households. Electricity services had been restored by Sunday morning.
Authorities said there was no threat of a tsunami following the earthquake. No abnormalities were reported at Japan’s nuclear power plants either.
