Strong Earthquake Near Tokyo and Activation of Alarm Devices

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the Japanese capital, Tokyo, causing buildings to shake and alarms to go off on phones, without any tsunami warning issued by the authorities. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the earthquake occurred in southern Ibaraki, east of Tokyo, at a depth of 50 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries; however, bullet train operations between Tokyo and Koriyama in the northeastern Fukushima area were suspended due to power outages, according to Japan's public broadcasting organization. Hiroyuki Sanada, an official from the Nuclear Regulation Authority, stated that there were no reports of "any malfunction" at the Tokai Daini Nuclear Power Plant in Ibaraki, which is offline for safety inspections. Japan experiences about 1,500 earthquakes each year, accounting for approximately 18% of the world's earthquakes, although most are minor. Despite strict building regulations in Japan, many buildings, especially outside major cities, are old and vulnerable.