A magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits central Japan, injuring 27 people. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the source area of ​​the Nankai Trough.

Japan The National Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that several incidents occurred in Japan on the 8th.Earthquake A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck western Shizuoka Prefecture early in the morning, the strongest earthquake to hit Aichi Prefecture. At least 27 people were injured in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures; in the morningKumamoto Another magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck the county, with a maximum magnitude of 4. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter of the morning quake was located in the Nankai Trough, the earthquake’s expected source area. Although the mechanism of occurrence is different from the Nankai Trough giant earthquake, earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of 5 should still be observed in the next week or so.

The early morning earthquake occurred at 1:04 am local time. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of 41 kilometers. This did not cause a tsunami. A magnitude 5 earthquake was observed in Chita city of Aichi Prefecture. It was the first time in nearly 30 years, since March 1997, that an earthquake of this magnitude had hit Aichi Prefecture.

The magnitude 5 earthquake was observed in places such as Toyota City, Seto City and Handa City in Aichi Prefecture, Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Ena City in Gifu Prefecture and Mataki Village in Nagano Prefecture; An earthquake of magnitude 4 was observed in Sengusa district and other places in Nagoya city. Level 1 long-period earthquakes were also observed in Aichi and Nagano prefectures. Almost everyone present in tall buildings felt the tremors and hanging objects were shaken significantly.

TV Asahi reported that at least 24 people were injured in Aichi Prefecture, including a 50-year-old woman from Tokonam city who fell while walking outside and broke her right ankle. Shizuoka Prefecture Western Fire and Police also said that as of 6:30 a.m., three people were slightly injured locally, and at least 27 people were injured in both prefectures.

Many facilities have also been damaged by the earthquake. The upper part of the torii gate of a temple in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture broke into two pieces, and stones fell into the temple. At least 30 windows of the Higashiura town office sustained large cracks.

The earthquake also affected local traffic, with some trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen being delayed and some Nagoya Municipal Subway lines temporarily suspended.

At about 10:53 a.m. the same day, another magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture. The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the Amakusa and Ashihoku areas, and the depth of the epicenter was about 10 kilometers. A maximum magnitude 4 earthquake was observed in Minami Ward, Ueto City and Uzo City of Kumamoto City and there were no concerns of a tsunami.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that although the earthquake’s source was located within the estimated source area of ​​the Nankai Trough earthquake, it occurred within the oceanic plate, and its depth and mechanism were different from larger earthquakes that occur at the plate boundaries. Viewed by scale, it is not expected to have any significant impact on the position of plate boundaries along the Nankai Trough.

The meteorological agency reminded that the risk of rock falls and rock collapse is increased in areas with strong shaking, and attention should be paid to subsequent seismic activity and rainfall. Caution should still be exercised for earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of about 5 in the next week or so. Officials also called on the public not to panic excessively as the probability of an earthquake in the Nankai Trough is increasing, but they should continue to make daily disaster prevention preparations.