Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Injures People in Central Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, November 8, injuring people, damaging shops and disrupting rail services. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) placed the epicentre in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 40 kilometres below the surface. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 5.5.

Local-media reports put the number injured across the affected areas at at least 22, with some accounts reporting 24. Separately, an emergency official in Aichi said authorities had received 16 reports of mostly minor injuries. The figures refer to different reported scopes: the official’s count covered reports received in Aichi, while the higher totals were reported for the wider region. Shizuoka authorities said at least three women sought emergency medical care, including a woman in her nineties who hurt her shoulder in a fall from bed.

No deaths or tsunami warning were reported. Japanese television footage showed shattered shop windows and broken glass scattered in streets. A bookstore’s merchandise fell from shelves, and some people were injured while trying to leave buildings, according to local reports. The strongest shaking was recorded in Aichi, and...