Strong quake shakes central Japan near Mt Fuji
A preliminary magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck central Japan late on June 26, shaking Yamanashi Prefecture and neighbouring areas, with no tsunami warning issued and no abnormalities detected in volcanic activity at Mt Fuji, Kyodo News reports.
The earthquake occurred at 10:29pm at a depth of about 20km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It registered lower 6 on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture.
An intensity of lower 6 makes it difficult to remain standing. Unsecured furniture may topple over and windows may be damaged. The quake also registered an intensity of 4 in parts of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said no abnormalities had been detected at nuclear facilities, including Chubu Electric Power's Hamaoka nuclear power plant.
Tokaido Shinkansen services were temporarily suspended following the earthquake, according to JR Central.
An official in Fujikawaguchiko described the earthquake as an upward-thrusting tremor.
A 64-year-old part-time employee at a local convenience store evacuated the building after recalling the 2011 earthquake in north-eastern Japan. She said the vertical shaking lasted for more than 10 seconds and caused snacks to fall from store shelves.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed officials to gather information and provide updates to the public without delay.
The earthquake struck as the region was preparing for next month's opening of the climbing season on the 3,776-metre Mt Fuji.
Experts said the affected area lies near the convergence of several tectonic plates, including the Philippine Sea Plate.
Takuya Nishimura, a professor at Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute, said earthquakes of around magnitude 6 occur in the area roughly once every 10 years.
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