Watch: Shattered glass, scattered books after strong earthquake rattles Japan
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan, causing injuries and property damage across several prefectures. Authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks and secondary hazards like landslides.
Why it matters
Frequent seismic activity in Japan necessitates constant public preparedness and robust infrastructure monitoring to mitigate casualties.
A strong earthquake shook central Japan early Sunday, shattering store windows, causing people to flee buildings and leaving at least 22 people injured, according to local media.Japan's Meteorological Agency put the quake's magnitude at 5.7, while the US Geological Survey reported it at magnitude 5.5. Smaller aftershocks were reported.A wide area near Aichi Prefecture was affected, including the city of Hamamatsu, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara and nearby prefectures of Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, as well as Gifu.Japanese TV footage showed shattered store windows and scattered shards of glass on the streets. A bookstore was left with mounds of books that had flown off the shelves. The injuries included people who fell from stairs while they were trying to flee.The quake, which struck at 1:04 am, was located about 40 kilometres below the earth's surface in Shizuoka Prefecture. Aichi and Shizuoka are neighbouring regions.
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