Strong earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 5.7 hits Japan, weather agency says

TOKYO (AP) — A strong earthquake shook central Japan early Sunday, shattering store windows, forcing people to flee buildings and leaving at least 22 injured, according to local media.

The Japan Meteorological Agency put the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.7, while the U.S. Geological Survey reported it at 5.5. Smaller aftershocks were reported.

A large area near Aichi Prefecture was affected, including the city of Hamamatsu, the former capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and the neighboring prefectures of Yamanashi, home to Mount Fuji, as well as Gifu.

Japanese television footage showed broken store windows and shards of glass strewn across the streets. A bookstore found itself with piles of books that had flown off the shelves. Among the injured were people who fell from stairs while trying to escape.

The quake, which struck at 1:04 a.m., was located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) below the earth’s surface in Shizuoka Prefecture. Aichi and Shizuoka are neighboring regions. They are far enough from Tokyo that the earthquake was not felt there. The most violent tremors were felt in Aichi, according to official seismic assessments.

The weather agency warned people to prepare for possible strong earthquakes in the coming week, particularly over the next two to three days.

“Be alert for mudslides, rockfalls and the possible effects of rainfall,” Ayataka Ebita, an agency official, told reporters.

He said no apparent changes had been detected so far in the Nankai Basin plate, where scientists believe a mega-earthquake could eventually occur.

As a precaution, Shinkansen bullet trains were operating at slower speeds in affected areas. Sometimes earthquakes can damage the railway tracks on which trains run.

Japan is located in an earthquake-prone area. Authorities frequently ask people to stock up on bottled water, food and batteries, make plans to hide under tables and keep comfortable walking shoes on hand.

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