A 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan early Sunday morning, causing injuries to dozens of people and material damage to several buildings, as well as disrupting train services in various parts of the country.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the earthquake occurred at 1:04 AM local time in Shizuoka Prefecture, located west of Tokyo, confirming that no tsunami warning was issued.
According to the French news agency, local officials stated that authorities received 16 reports of injuries, most of which were minor, while authorities in Shizuoka Prefecture announced that at least three women required urgent medical care, including a woman in her nineties who fell from her bed during the tremor.
In the same context, local media, including the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper and Tokai TV, reported that at least 24 people were injured in the areas affected by the earthquake, with damage including broken storefronts and buildings.
The earthquake also caused a temporary suspension of regional train services on Sunday morning, including the high-speed Shinkansen trains, as precautionary measures were taken to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the railway lines.
The effects of the earthquake extended westward to Osaka City, where a foreign resident was taken to the hospital after falling from a second-floor apartment due to panic during the earthquake.
Authorities have not reported any fatalities so far, while the relevant agencies continue to monitor the damage and assess the aftermath of the tremor.