A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Sunday morning, causing widespread damage and prompting residents to evacuate their buildings. According to official reports, the disaster resulted in at least 23 people being injured.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake's magnitude was estimated at 5.7, whereas the U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 5.5.
A significant region in western Japan was impacted, encompassing the city of Hamamatsu, as well as the historic cities of Kyoto and Nara, and the surrounding prefectures of Yamanashi, home to Mount Fuji, and Gifu.
A significant earthquake struck various regions within the Japanese prefectures of Aichi, Nagano, Gifu, and Shizuoka, registering a magnitude of 5 on the Japanese seismic scale, which assesses surface agitation and potential damage on a scale of 1 to 7.
Footage from Japanese television depicted scenes of destruction, with crushed cameras and shattered glass littering the streets. A nearby bookstore suffered significant damage, with numerous books scattered about after being dislodged from their shelves. Several individuals were also injured in the chaos, with some reportedly falling down stairs while attempting to flee the area.
A significant earthquake struck at 1:04 a.m., with its epicenter located approximately 40 kilometers beneath the surface in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Neighboring regions of Aichi and Shizuoka, located at a sufficient distance from Tokyo, were not affected by the earthquake's impact, as per official seismic evaluations. The most intense seismic activity was reportedly recorded in the Aichi region.
Local train services were impacted by the earthquake, with bullet trains operating between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations experiencing delays due to security checks being conducted by the operator.
As a precautionary measure, Shinkansen bullet trains have been operating at reduced speeds in areas affected by the incident.
Chubu power company officials stated that no irregularities were identified at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka, situated approximately 200 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.
JC (AP and EFE)
