Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes eastern Japan, injuring more than 20

TOKYO — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck eastern Japan early Sunday, injuring more than 20 people and disrupting train services across the region, according to local media citing authorities.No tsunami warning was issued following the quake, which originated in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of about 68 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.The earthquake registered lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures, as well as central Tokyo.More than 20 people were reported injured, including a young man and a woman in her 70s in Saitama. Nine people were injured in Kanagawa Prefecture and four others in Chiba.The earthquake also disrupted transportation, delaying several train services and forcing some trains to operate at reduced speeds. Some express services operated by Tobu Railway remained suspended.Authorities reported no abnormalities at the Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki or at the Fukushima Daiichi and nearby Fukushima Daini nuclear plants in northeastern Japan.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to assess the extent of the damage and provide timely information to the public.The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain alert for further strong earthquakes over the coming week, particularly during the next two to three days.The tremor was felt across a wide area of eastern Japan, including northeastern and central parts of the country.