IBNS-CMEDIA: An earthquake measuring 5.7 in magnitude struck Japan early Sunday, injuring 20 people in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, authorities said.
The earthquake struck at 1:04 a.m., with its epicentre in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of approximately 40 kilometres. It registered an upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Kyodo News reported.
No tsunami warning had been issued following the earthquake, according to the latest update.
Aichi, home to major Japanese manufacturing companies such as Toyota Motor Corp, experienced its strongest earthquake of this intensity in nearly three decades.
The prefecture last recorded an earthquake measuring upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in 1997, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, no abnormalities were detected at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka, according to its operator, Chubu Electric Power Co, Kyodo reported.
Following the earthquake, several local train services were suspended.
Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains were also delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations as they operated at reduced speeds as a safety precaution. However, normal-speed operations resumed before noon, according to JR Central, Kyodo reported.
Japan is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.
