On August 22, according to Xinhua news agency, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 occurred in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeastern Tokyo, Japan, at about 2 am on the same day (local time).
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 68-70km, with the epicenter located at coordinates 36 degrees North latitude and 140.1 degrees East longitude. Strong tremors were felt in Tokyo and many surrounding areas.
According to JMA, some areas in Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures, along with the Adachi district of Tokyo, recorded tremors below 5 on Japan's 7-level seismic scale.
The Japan Fire Agency said at least 7 people were injured after the earthquake, mainly bruised. The strong vibration lasted about 20 seconds, causing furniture to shake in Tokyo, while bowls and some items fell down.
The earthquake warning system was activated immediately after the tremors occurred. A tsunami warning was also issued, but was discharged just a few minutes later.
Railway operations in some areas were disrupted after the earthquake, before returning as scheduled. Authorities also checked the situation at nuclear facilities and no unusual signs were recorded.
The earthquake occurred in the context of the eastern region of Japan frequently recording seismic activity. The epicenter was located in Ibaraki Prefecture, a locality bordering Tokyo and not far from the capital.
According to published information, Japanese authorities continue to monitor the situation after the earthquake, focusing on assessing damage and impacts on traffic and infrastructure.
