Magnitude 5.9 earthquake rattles Tokyo and eastern Kanto region

Two Quakes in 24 Hours

Japan was hit by two significant earthquakes on Sunday. Early in the morning, at approximately 2:00 a.m. local time, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Tokyo and the broader Kanto region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The quake was centered in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 68 kilometers, as reported by multiple sources, although one report from The Japan Times placed the depth at 70 kilometers. JMA confirmed that no tsunami threat was triggered.

Later that evening, at 10:45 p.m., a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck parts of Hokkaido, with its epicenter off the coast at a depth of 40 kilometers, according to JMA. Seismic intensity reached 4 on Japan's 7-point scale, and no tsunami warning was issued, the agency said.

Injuries and Damage from the Morning Quake

The morning quake left a significant number of injuries. Reports differ on the exact count: authorities told Kyodo News that over 40 people were injured in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures, while the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 37 injured, according to The Japan Times. The latter tally included 22 people lightly injured in Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Ibaraki Prefectures, 15 more in Tokyo, and one person seriously injured in Kanagawa.

Local fire departments reported specific incidents, including a teenage boy and a woman in her 70s with arm and shoulder injuries in Saitama, and three people in Kawasaki who fell and suffered face and hand injuries. A woman in her 60s was injured after falling down stairs in Sagamihara.

The quake caused a partial collapse of the ceiling at Ushiku City Hall in Ibaraki Prefecture, according to NHK, and there were reports of people trapped in elevators in Tokyo. In Tokyo's Koto Ward, a water pipe ruptured, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Waterworks was investigating whether the damage was linked to the earthquake, as reported by several outlets.

Warnings and Government Response

JMA urged residents to remain alert for earthquakes registering up to lower 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale over the following week, particularly during the first two to three days, according to JAPAN Forward and other sources. The agency described lower 5 as shaking strong enough to frighten most people and compel them to hold onto something, with objects possibly falling from shelves.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded on X, stating that efforts to confirm the extent of the damage were ongoing and that a liaison office had been established at the Prime Minister's Office Crisis Management Center. She also announced the creation of an emergency response task force and asked the public to remain vigilant for the possibility of another earthquake of similar magnitude, as reported by The Japan Times and other outlets.

Transport Disruptions

The earthquake triggered delays for early morning train operations, with JR East and regional operators reducing speeds on several services. JR East reported delays across multiple lines, including the Joban Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Shonan Shinjuku Line, Musashino Line, and Chuo-Sobu Line, according to The Japan Times. The Keisei Line, which connects central Tokyo to Narita Airport, resumed normal operations after 9:40 a.m., as reported by ANI, quoting Kyodo News. Selected express routes operated by Tobu Railway remained suspended.

At Omiya Station, signs informed passengers of suspended services, and JAPAN Forward reported that public transportation disruptions threw Sunday travel plans into disarray.

The Hokkaido Quake and Nuclear Checks

In Hokkaido, the magnitude 6.0 earthquake was recorded at seismic intensity 4, with its epicenter approximately 125 kilometers south of Obihiro and 36 kilometers south-southeast of Urakawa, according to The Tribune and Times Now. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the evening quake, and authorities were monitoring the situation.

In the village of Tokai in Ibaraki Prefecture, home to Japan Atomic Power Company's Tokai and Tokai No. 2 nuclear plants, shaking was recorded at intensity 3. The company reported no abnormalities at the Tokai No. 2 plant following the morning earthquake, with checks ongoing at the decommissioned Tokai plant, as reported by The Japan Times.

Residents Describe the Shaking

Residents across the affected areas described the night-time shaking as intense. Naoko Ishizaki, 57, of Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, told JAPAN Forward that the jolt was like the Great East Japan Earthquake, and that she would check her emergency supplies again. Kento Nakamura, 45, of Tokyo's Adachi Ward, was taking a bath when the strong shaking struck and the water surged in the bathtub.

At a supermarket in Adachi Ward, an alarm system malfunctioned and released fire suppressant; the discharge was stopped around 2:45 a.m., and the store delayed opening by an hour, according to JAPAN Forward.

The shaking, which lasted up to a minute in some areas, was felt shortly after earthquake early warning alarms sounded on mobile phones, jolting many people awake, as reported by The Japan Times.

Ground Motion and Ongoing Risk

Long-period ground motion, which can cause high-rise buildings to sway, was observed at Level 2 in Tokyo's 23 wards as well as Saitama and Chiba Prefectures, according to The Japan Times. Another report from the same outlet noted Level 2 ground motion in Kawaguchi, Urayasu, and Tokyo's Koto and Edogawa wards. At this level, people may have difficulty standing, and furniture may move or fall.

The morning earthquake was felt across a wide area of northeastern and central Japan, and authorities continued to urge caution, with the possibility of further strong shaking in the coming days.