East Coast Hit by 5.8-5.9 Magnitude Quake With No Tsunami Risk
TOKYO — A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude between 5.8 and 5.9 shook eastern Japan early Sunday, including Tokyo, but the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed no tsunami warning was issued.
The tremor occurred in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers (42 miles), according to the agency. The United States Geological Survey recorded a slightly lower magnitude of 5.8 for the same event.
The earthquake triggered emergency alerts on mobile devices and caused shaking across the Tokyo area, but disseminated reports indicated normal traffic flow on roads in Mito and Saitama, per NHK television footage.
Emergency services confirmed an underground water pipe burst in Tokyo’s Koto Ward, spilling water onto streets. TEPCO Power Grid reported approximately 460 homes experiencing power outages in the region.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority disclosed no abnormal events at approximately a dozen nuclear facilities managing radioactive materials.
However, the incident reawaken memories of the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck Kumamoto prefecture last month, which caused 38 fatalities, 364 injuries, and widespread structural damage to over 3,000 buildings.