An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 shook the eastern part of Japan, including the capital Tokyo, at 02:00 local time (20:00 on August 22, Bulgarian time).
The earthquake was registered at a depth of 68 kilometers with an epicenter in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, according to official data from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The strong earthquakes in Japan activated the national early warning systems, waking up millions of residents in Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa. According to data from the Japanese Fire and Disaster Prevention Agency, at least 37 people were injured. Most of the injured suffered minor injuries from falling objects and furniture.
There is no tsunami threat, and operators of nuclear power plants in the region, including the damaged “Fukushima-1“, confirmed that no abnormalities in the radiation background have been detected. The country's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered an immediate assessment of the damage. Train traffic in Tokyo and to “Narita“ airport has been temporarily suspended or is running with long delays. Seismologists warn of the risk of strong aftershocks and potential landslides next week due to soil compromised by recent heavy rains.