5.9 earthquake hits eastern Japan

A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan, including the Japan — Tokyo area, early Sunday morning. The quake occurred in southern Japan — Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers, according to the Japan — Japan Meteorological Agency. The United States — United States Geological Survey and the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences recorded preliminary magnitudes of 5.8. At least five people were injured in Ibaraki, Chiba, and Saitama prefectures, according to the Indonesia — National Disaster Management Agency. The earthquake caused delays to express trains serving Japan — Tokyo and Narita International Airport, but Shinkansen bullet trains operated normally, according to East Japan Railway Company. An underground water pipe ruptured in Japan — Tokyo's Koto ward, and about 460 homes in Japan — Tokyo experienced blackouts, which were restored by TEPCO Power Grid. The government set up a task force to assess damage, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on the situation. No tsunami warning was issued, and no anomalies were reported at nuclear facilities, according to the Japan — Nuclear Regulation Authority. The event follows a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Japan — Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan — Kyushu, last month that killed 38 people.