Strong Earthquake Shakes Central Japan, Injures More Than 20 People

A strong earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, injuring at least 22 people, damaging buildings, and prompting warnings about possible aftershocks in the coming days.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake measured magnitude 5.7, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded it at magnitude 5.5.

The quake occurred at approximately 1:04am local time and was centered in Shizuoka Prefecture, at a depth of around 40 kilometres below the Earth’s surface.

A wide area was affected by the tremor, including parts of Aichi Prefecture, Hamamatsu, the historic cities of Kyoto and Nara, as well as Yamanashi Prefecture, home to Mount Fuji, and Gifu Prefecture.

Television footage showed shattered shop windows, broken glass scattered across streets, and books thrown from shelves inside stores. One bookstore was left with piles of books covering its floor following the strong shaking.

Authorities said many of the injuries occurred as people attempted to evacuate buildings, including several who fell on stairways while trying to escape.

Several smaller aftershocks were recorded following the main quake, prompting officials to warn residents to remain alert.

Ayataka Ebita, an official from the meteorological agency, urged people to prepare for further seismic activity.

“Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall,” he said.

The agency warned that additional strong earthquakes could occur over the next week, particularly during the next two to three days.

Officials also confirmed that no unusual activity had been detected along the Nankai Trough, a major offshore fault zone long considered capable of generating a devastating megaquake.

As a precaution, Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains reduced operating speeds in affected areas while railway infrastructure inspections were carried out to ensure passenger safety.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries due to its location along several major tectonic plate boundaries. Authorities regularly encourage residents to maintain emergency supplies, including bottled water, food, batteries, and disaster preparedness kits.