A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck western Aichi Prefecture at about 1:04 a.m. on November 8, registering upper 5 on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale, with no tsunami expected.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter was in western Shizuoka Prefecture, at a depth of about 40 kilometers. The agency estimated the magnitude at 5.7.
Shaking of lower 5 was recorded in Toyota, Seto, Kariya, Handa, Shinshiro, Tokai, Aichi Miyoshi and Togo in Aichi Prefecture. Lower 5 was also recorded in Ena, Gifu Prefecture, and in Hamamatsu's Hamana Ward.
Shaking of 4 was recorded across a wide area from Nagano Prefecture to Mie Prefecture.
The government set up a liaison office at the crisis management center in the prime minister's office in response to the quake.
The Toyota City Fire Department said it received reports that two people fell and were injured in the city. Both were conscious, according to the reports.
Central Japan Railway said all trains had finished their final runs of the night when the quake hit, so service was unaffected. The company said it would decide on the morning schedule after checking for damage.
A moderate quake, and a moment to check the plan
An upper 5 quake — strong enough to make it hard to stay on your feet, but below the level that typically brings structural collapse — is the kind of shaking most households in the Tokai region will eventually feel. Whether the response holds up depends on what is already in place before it arrives.
Preparedness events aimed at foreign residents have been held in Aichi, including one where participants experienced shaking equivalent to intensity 7. Such events are where evacuation routes, emergency kits and local-language information can be checked in advance.
- Confirm the location of your nearest designated evacuation site and the route to it
- Check that your emergency kit has water, food, a flashlight, a portable radio and a first-aid supply
- Keep your passport, residence card and other documents in one place you can grab quickly
- Register for local government emergency alerts and check which languages they are issued in