Earthquake hits central Japan, injuring more than 20 people — SkimNews
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- Japan Meteorological Agency put the quake at magnitude 5.7, striking western Shizuoka Prefecture at 1:04 a.m. local time Sunday (16:00 GMT Saturday) at a depth of about 40 km.
- Aichi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture counted more than 20 people injured, with Kyodo citing authorities and AP reporting that some were hurt falling on stairs as they tried to flee buildings.
- Ayataka Ebita urged people to watch for mudslides, falling rocks and possible effects from rainfall, and said strong aftershocks were possible in the coming week, especially the next two to three days.
- Nankai Trough, the underwater trench where scientists say a megaquake could occur, showed no apparent change so far, and Kyodo reported that no tsunami warning was issued.
- JR Central said the Tokaido Shinkansen was delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations after safety checks, with some local train services suspended and bullet trains running at slower speeds in affected areas.
- Japanese television showed shattered shop windows, shards of glass scattered across streets and a bookstore left with mounds of books that had fallen from the shelves.
- Hamamatsu was among the cities in the affected area, which also included Kyoto, Nara, Yamanashi — where Mount Fuji is located — and Gifu; the quake was not felt in Tokyo, far from the epicentre.
Why it matters: For rail passengers, the immediate second-order effect was operational: JR Central delayed Tokaido Shinkansen services between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations, and some local trains were suspended. The JMA's no-change finding in the Nankai Trough and the absence of a tsunami warning left the reported consequences concentrated in injuries and shattered storefronts.
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