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Strong earthquake in central Japan injures at least 22 and shatters store windows

Japan's Meteorological Agency puts the magnitude at 5.7, the U.S. Geological Survey at 5.5, and the agency warns of possible strong quakes ahead.

6 news outlets reported this
Liberal3 outletsInjuries, damage and warnings of more quakesCenter1 outletMeteorological agency's magnitude and aftershock warningConservative2 outletsStrong quake shatters windows, injures at least 22
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

A strong earthquake shook central Japan early on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1:04 a.m., shattering store windows and sending people running out of buildings. Local media report at least 22 people were injured. Some of them fell on stairs as they tried to flee.

Japan's Meteorological Agency rated the quake magnitude 5.7, while the U.S. Geological Survey reported 5.5. The quake was located in Shizuoka Prefecture, and the strongest shaking was felt in neighboring Aichi, according to official seismic assessments. The affected area also includes Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, Yamanashi, where Mount Fuji is located, and Gifu.

It was not felt in Tokyo. Japanese television showed broken glass in the streets and a bookstore where books flew off the shelves. Smaller aftershocks were reported.

Al Jazeera English, citing Kyodo, reports that no tsunami warning was issued. The weather agency warned people to brace for possible strong quakes over the week after the shock, especially during the first two to three days. Agency official Ayataka Ebita asked people to watch for mudslides, falling rocks and possible effects from rainfall.

He said the Nankai Trough, where scientists say a megaquake can possibly hit, has shown no apparent change so far. Shinkansen bullet trains ran at slower speeds as a precaution.

Key figures

Three sides of the story

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6 news outlets reported this

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Liberal3 outlets

Injuries, damage and warnings of more quakes

The Boston Globe runs the Associated Press report, which opens with the strong quake shattering store windows and leaving "at least 22" injured, and gives both the Japanese and U.S. magnitude readings. Al Jazeera English leads with "more than 20" injured and cites Kyodo news agency and local authorities. It adds that no tsunami warning was issued, Kyodo reported, and that JR Central reported delays on the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima.

Al Jazeera also explains the Nankai Trough as an underwater trench where two major plates meet. Both quote agency official Ayataka Ebita: "Please be on the lookout for mudslides, falling rocks and the possible effects from rainfall." ABC News headlines a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 striking Japan.

Center1 outlet

Meteorological agency's magnitude and aftershock warning

The Seattle Times runs the Associated Press wire report under the headline "A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 strikes Japan, meteorological agency says." The text opens with the quake shattering store windows, sending people out of buildings and leaving at least 22 injured, according to local media. It gives the U.S. Geological Survey's reading of 5.5 next to the agency's 5.7 and reports smaller aftershocks.

It describes the broken glass, the bookstore with books thrown from shelves and people who fell on stairs while fleeing. It says the most violent shaking was in Aichi and that Tokyo did not feel it. It quotes agency official Ayataka Ebita urging people to watch for "mudslides, falling rocks" and rainfall effects, and says he reported no apparent change so far at the Nankai Trough.

It ends with the slowed Shinkansen trains and the advice authorities give people in Japan to stock water, food and batteries.

Conservative2 outlets

Strong quake shatters windows, injures at least 22

The New York Post runs the Associated Press report under the headline "Strong earthquake shakes Japan, shattering store windows and injuring at least 22." The text opens with the quake shattering store windows, people fleeing buildings and at least 22 injured, according to local media. It gives the Japanese agency's magnitude of 5.7 and the U.S. Geological Survey's 5.5, places the quake about 25 miles down in Shizuoka Prefecture, and notes smaller aftershocks.

Aichi had the strongest shaking, according to official seismic assessments, and Tokyo did not feel the quake. The report passes on the agency's advice to brace for possible strong quakes, particularly in the first two to three days after the shock. It quotes agency official Ayataka Ebita on the risk of "mudslides, falling rocks" and rainfall effects.

He also says no apparent change has been detected so far at the Nankai Trough. The piece closes with the slower Shinkansen trains and the advice authorities in Japan give people to prepare for earthquakes.

All sources: 7 articles from 6 outlets

Liberal (4)

Center (1)

Conservative (2)