Magnitude 5.7 earthquake strikes central Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture, injuring people; no tsunami warning

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan at 1:04am local time on Sunday. People were injured. No tsunami warning was issued. Al Jazeera and The Japan Times both reported these details.

Al Jazeera put the time of the quake at 16:00 GMT on Saturday. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as cited by Al Jazeera, the quake struck at a depth of about 40km (25 miles) in western Shizuoka Prefecture.

Injuries and damage

The Kyodo news agency cited authorities as saying more than 20 people were injured in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures, according to Al Jazeera. The Associated Press reported that some of the injured fell on stairs while trying to flee, Al Jazeera said.

According to Al Jazeera, the quake affected a wide area near Aichi Prefecture. This included the city of Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, and Yamanashi and Gifu prefectures. The quake was not felt in Tokyo, which is far from the epicentre, Al Jazeera reported.

Japanese television showed shattered shop windows and glass on streets, according to Al Jazeera. It also showed a bookstore with mounds of books that had fallen from shelves.

Transport

Some local train services were suspended, according to Al Jazeera. Shinkansen bullet trains ran at slower speeds in affected areas as a precaution. Rail operator JR Central said Tokaido Shinkansen trains were delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations after safety checks.

Official warnings

JMA official Ayataka Ebita told reporters, according to Al Jazeera: "Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall."

What is disputed

The number of injured differs between reports. Authorities cited by Kyodo said more than 20 people were injured. A headline in The Japan Times said the quake injured "dozens". Its summary gives no figure. The two accounts are not necessarily contradictory, but they are not identical.

What each side says

• Japan Meteorological Agency: People should be ready for possible strong quakes in the coming week, especially in the next two to three days. No apparent change has been detected so far in the Nankai Trough.
• JR Central: Tokaido Shinkansen trains were delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations after safety checks.

What the reports do not say

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not give a precise injury count or describe how serious the injuries were. They do not mention whether anyone was killed. They do not estimate structural or economic damage beyond broken windows and fallen items. They do not say whether aftershocks have occurred or whether train services have resumed. The Japan Times coverage reviewed is limited to a headline and summary and does not state where its information came from.

Analysis

The early picture points to limited, localised damage, but key details are missing. These include a precise injury count, the severity of injuries and any aftershock activity. The JMA's call for readiness over the coming days is a precaution, not a forecast that a stronger quake will occur. Its statement that no apparent change has been detected in the Nankai Trough is a point authorities may keep monitoring. Further official figures could confirm, narrow or revise the injury totals. Updates on rail services and any landslide risk linked to rainfall would also clarify the wider impact.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.