A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Tokyo late Monday night, sending tremors through the metropolitan area and triggering building evacuations, but resulting in no major casualties, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency.
A brief statement from the Tokyo Fire Department said 18 people suffered minor injuries, mostly from falls or broken glass.
Trains were suspended for over three hours across central Tokyo, and flights were briefly rerouted from Haneda Airport. However, infrastructure held firm thanks to strict quake-resistance building codes implemented after 2011.
Emergency alerts were sent to millions via smartphone within seconds, crediting Japan’s advanced seismic warning system for preventing further harm.
In short, the city’s preparedness likely saved lives.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised emergency services and engineers during a press briefing early Tuesday. Authorities confirmed that nuclear power facilities in the region were unaffected.
Seismologists say aftershocks may continue through the week, but no tsunami threat has been issued. Schools resumed normal operations Tuesday morning after safety inspections.
