Magnitude-5.7 earthquake strikes western Shizuoka, injuring 15 and disrupting shinkansen

A magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck western Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan early Sunday, injuring at least 15 people and disrupting shinkansen services. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that additional strong earthquakes are likely over the next two to three days and urged the public to take special precautions.

According to the agency, the quake hit western Shizuoka Prefecture at around 1:04 a.m. Sunday. The focus was measured at a depth of 40 kilometers, and no tsunami was generated.

The earthquake produced a maximum seismic intensity of shindo 5-upper in Chita, Aichi Prefecture.

Japan's shindo scale measures the intensity of shaking felt at a specific location, as distinct from magnitude, which reflects the energy released by the quake itself. A shindo 5-upper reading indicates strong shaking severe enough to interfere with most physical activity, and unfixed furniture can topple.

A shindo 5-lower reading was recorded in Seto, Handa, Kariya, Toyota, Shinshiro, Tokai, Miyoshi and Togo in Aichi Prefecture, as well as in Hamanako in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Ena in Gifu Prefecture, and Urugimura in Nagano Prefecture. At that intensity, most people feel strong fear, find it difficult to remain standing without holding onto something, and dishes or books on shelves can fall.

The quake caused injuries across the affected area. At least 12 people in Aichi Prefecture were hurt — falling or striking their heads — according to NHK and other media. Three more people were reported injured in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Rail services were also affected. The Tokaido Shinkansen slowed trains between Shizuoka and Hashima in Gifu Prefecture, causing delays. Some conventional rail lines suspended service from their first trains of the day.

The Japan Meteorological Agency held an emergency news conference in the early hours of Sunday to warn of the possibility of further earthquakes.

"Caution is needed for earthquakes of up to shindo 5-upper intensity for about a week," the agency said, adding that the likelihood of a large earthquake is particularly high through Monday and Tuesday.

However, the agency assessed that the quake is unlikely to be connected to the Nankai Trough megaquake that Japan has long feared.