A strong earthquake struck central Japan early on Sunday, shaking homes across several prefectures and injuring more than 20 people, according to Japanese authorities. No tsunami warning was issued.

The Japan Meteorological Agency put the earthquake at magnitude 5.7. It struck at about 1:04 a.m. local time, with its epicentre in western Shizuoka Prefecture at a depth of around 40 kilometres. The United States Geological Survey gave a slightly lower figure of magnitude 5.5.

The strongest shaking was recorded in Chita City in neighbouring Aichi Prefecture, where the tremor reached upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale of zero to seven. It was the first shaking of that strength recorded in Aichi since March 1997. Shaking of lower 5 was also felt in parts of Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu and Nagano prefectures, and the tremor was felt as far away as Kyoto, Nara and the area around Mount Fuji.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed there was no tsunami risk and said the government had set up a liaison office at the Prime Minister's Office crisis management centre to gather information and assess the damage. She urged residents in areas that felt strong shaking to stay alert for further tremors.

The meteorological agency warned people to brace for possible strong aftershocks over the coming week, especially in the next two to three days, and cautioned about a higher risk of falling rocks and landslides if rain follows. Officials said the quake occurred in the projected area of a feared Nankai Trough megaquake but was believed to be a different event, with the chance of a link assessed as low.

[Source: newkerala.com](https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/earthquake-magnitude-57-strikes-japan-897.htm) | [Source: europesays.com](https://www.europesays.com/japan/120363/)