Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Hits Eastern Japan, 37 Injured

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan on Sunday, including the Tokyo area. At least 37 people were injured, most of them slightly, local authorities said. No tsunami warning was issued.

The Japan Meteorological Agency located the epicenter in the southern part of Ibaraki prefecture at a depth of about 70 km. Residents of Tokyo also felt the tremors strongly. Several people were injured after falling or colliding with furniture when the earthquake caught them by surprise while they were sleeping.

The tremors caused delays on some train lines in Tokyo and toward Narita Airport, but Shinkansen bullet trains operated without restrictions. An underground water main burst in Tokyo's Koto ward, though the problem has since been resolved.

Authorities reported no problems at nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities. Meteorologists warned residents that stronger tremors cannot be ruled out over the coming week.

(AP, Reuters, sab)