TOKYO — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rattled eastern Japan, including the greater Tokyo area, early Sunday. The Japan Meteorological Agency identified the epicenter in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers (42 miles). The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 5.8.
No tsunami warning was issued. The earthquake triggered emergency alerts on mobile phones throughout the region.
At least 37 people sustained injuries across five prefectures, according to prefectural officials and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Tokyo reported 15 injuries, Saitama nine, Kanagawa eight, Chiba four, and Ibaraki one. Most suffered minor injuries from falls or collisions with furniture and doors.
Many people were asleep when the quake struck and fell or collided with objects while getting out of bed. Among more serious cases, a woman in her 80s in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, fell from her bed and sustained a serious hip injury.
A 23-year-old man shopping in Tokyo's Taito district said he felt a strong vertical jolt seconds after his earthquake alert sounded. He feared being hit by merchandise falling from shelves as the building shook.
The earthquake disrupted regional transportation. Express trains to Tokyo and Narita Airport experienced delays, as did some local trains serving northeastern regions. East Japan Railway Co. said its Shinkansen bullet trains ran on schedule without disruption.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on X that the government had established a task force to assess damage across affected areas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to exercise caution for about one week, warning of potential aftershocks of moderate strength. Traffic on roads in nearby cities including Mito and Saitama appeared normal shortly after the quake.
An underground water pipe ruptured in Tokyo's Koto Ward. Crews repaired the pipe and stopped the leak.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority checked nuclear facilities in the area and reported no anomalies at about a dozen nuclear power plants and other sites handling nuclear materials.
The quake followed a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto area on Kyushu last month, killing 38 people and injuring 364.
