Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Rattles Eastern Japan, No Tsunami Warning
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook eastern Japan early Sunday, centered in Ibaraki prefecture. No tsunami alert was issued, and no damage or injuries were reported.
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled eastern Japan, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, in the early hours of Sunday. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that the tremor posed no tsunami threat.
The quake originated in the southern part of Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of approximately 70 kilometers (42 miles). The United States Geological Survey independently recorded the event with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8.
Despite the shaking being felt across the capital region, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Public broadcaster NHK showed traffic moving normally in nearby cities such as Mito and Saitama, indicating minimal disruption.
Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is among the most seismically active nations in the world. The event comes just weeks after a more powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern island of Kyushu last month, which claimed 38 lives, injured 364 people, and caused widespread structural damage.