TOKYO — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rattled eastern Japan early Sunday, sending emergency alerts to mobile phones across the Tokyo region and leaving at least 37 people injured, according to Japanese authorities and local officials.
The earthquake struck at around 2:00 a.m. on August 23, with its epicenter in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, at a depth of about 70 kilometers.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency recorded the earthquake at magnitude 5.9 and said the strongest shaking reached lower 5 on Japan’s seven-level seismic intensity scale.
The shaking was felt widely across the Kanto region, including Tokyo, Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba and Ibaraki.
At least 37 people injured
The latest figures cited by the Associated Press put the number of injured at 37 people across five prefectures — 15 in Tokyo, nine in Saitama, eight in Kanagawa, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki. Most injuries were reportedly minor.
Many people were hurt after being startled by the sudden shaking while asleep, causing them to fall or collide with furniture and doors.
One woman in her 80s in Yokohama suffered a serious hip injury after falling from her bed, according to reports cited by AP.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency has also listed the southern Ibaraki earthquake among its active disaster-response reports.
No tsunami threat reported
Despite the strength of the shaking, authorities reported no tsunami danger from the earthquake.
There were also no reported abnormalities at Japan’s nuclear facilities following the tremor, according to the Nuclear Regulation Authority as cited by AP.
The Japan Meteorological Agency’s monitoring data confirms that the earthquake occurred approximately 70 kilometers beneath southern Ibaraki. JMA also recorded long-period ground motion of Level 2 in parts of southern Saitama, northwestern Chiba and Tokyo’s 23 wards.
Trains briefly disrupted
The earthquake also caused temporary disruption to transportation.
Express train services linking Tokyo with Narita Airport and other northeastern routes experienced delays, while Shinkansen bullet train services continued operating normally, according to AP.
An underground water pipe also ruptured in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, sending water onto a road before the leak was repaired, AP reported, citing NHK footage.
Japan issues another warning: Stay alert
The earthquake’s immediate damage may have been limited, but authorities are urging residents not to become complacent.
The Japan Meteorological Agency advised people in the affected region to remain cautious about the possibility of another moderate earthquake for roughly one week following the event.
That warning is not a prediction that another major earthquake will occur. Rather, it reflects the possibility of additional seismic activity following a significant tremor.
Japan’s official earthquake data shows why the warning is being taken seriously. JMA’s records show several notable earthquakes in the country in recent months, including the deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the Kumamoto region in July.
Why this earthquake matters
The latest tremor struck in one of Japan’s most densely populated and economically important regions.
Tokyo and surrounding prefectures sit in an area with complex interactions between tectonic plates, making earthquakes a recurring part of life in Japan. Even earthquakes that do not cause widespread structural damage can disrupt railways, utilities and daily activity across the metropolitan area.
Sunday’s earthquake also comes as Japan continues to strengthen its disaster-preparedness systems following a series of significant earthquakes this year.
JMA’s records show that the August 23 earthquake generated an emergency earthquake warning and reached a maximum intensity of lower 5.
What residents should do now
Authorities are urging residents to remain alert without panicking.
People in affected areas should continue monitoring official earthquake and disaster information, secure unstable furniture and objects, keep emergency supplies accessible, and know the safest evacuation routes from homes, workplaces and schools.
The latest earthquake is another reminder that in Japan, preparation often matters as much as the initial warning.
For now, there is no official indication that a larger earthquake is imminent. But with authorities advising heightened vigilance over the coming days, residents across the Tokyo region are being urged to stay prepared.
The shaking may have stopped — but Japan’s earthquake monitoring and emergency response remain on high alert.
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