Japan Earthquake: 22 Injured in 5.7-Magnitude Tremor

Tokyo: At least 22 people were injured in a strong earthquake that struck Japan early Sunday morning. The earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.7 on the Richter scale.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the tremor shattered windows in shops and houses. Most of the injuries occurred when people fell down staircases while trying to evacuate buildings. The earthquake struck at 1:04 am local time on Sunday, with its epicentre located about 40 km below the Earth's surface in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong aftershocks could occur in the coming days and urged people to remain particularly alert over the next two to three days.

The tremors were felt strongly in the Aichi region. They were also reported in Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, Gifu and Yamanashi. The Yamanashi region, where Mount Fuji is located, was also affected by the earthquake. However, no tremors were felt in Tokyo.