A strong earthquake struck central Japan in the early hours of Sunday, shaking buildings across several prefectures, injuring at least 22 people and sending residents fleeing into the streets, according to Japanese media and officials.
The Japan Meteorological Agency put the magnitude at 5.7, while the United States Geological Survey reported it at 5.5. The tremor struck at 1:04 am local time, with its epicentre in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of about 40 kilometres.
The shaking was strongest in Chita City in neighbouring Aichi Prefecture, where it registered an intensity of upper 5 on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale — strong enough to make it difficult to move without holding on to something stable and to send unsecured objects falling from shelves.
Japanese media reported that at least 22 people were injured in the tremor, with some outlets putting the figure at dozens. Store windows shattered in the affected areas, and people ran out of buildings as the shaking continued, local reports said.
The quake was felt across a wide area of central Japan. Strong shaking was reported in the city of Hamamatsu and across Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures, and the tremor reached the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, as well as Yamanashi Prefecture, home to Mount Fuji, and neighbouring Gifu.
Despite the strength of the shaking, officials moved quickly to rule out a tsunami. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that strong shaking had been recorded in Chita City and said there was no risk of a tsunami, and the meteorological agency issued no tsunami warning.
Authorities activated emergency response measures in the hours after the quake, and local governments began surveying buildings and infrastructure for damage. Smaller aftershocks were reported in the area, and residents were urged to stay alert for further tremors.
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active regions on Earth, and Shizuoka Prefecture lies close to the Nankai Trough, a subduction zone off the country's southern coast that scientists have long watched for a major earthquake. The region's strict building codes and early-warning systems are credited with limiting casualties in quakes of this size.
Sunday's tremor was a reminder of that constant risk. Earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above are not uncommon in Japan, but one striking a densely populated area in the middle of the night — when most people are asleep at home — can cause injuries from falling furniture and broken glass even without collapsing buildings.
Officials said damage assessments were continuing and asked residents to check for gas leaks and water damage, to avoid entering damaged buildings, and to follow guidance from local authorities. Further updates on the injury toll and the extent of the damage were expected as daylight surveys were completed.
