Early Thursday, areas surrounding Tokyo Bay, including Chiba Prefecture and downtown Tokyo, experienced a jolting earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2.

The Japanese weather agency and local authorities reported several injuries resulting from the seismic event, KYODO NEWS reported.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at 4:16 a.m. It registered an upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Kisarazu and a lower 5 in Kimitsu, both located in Chiba Prefecture.

In areas such as Tokyo’s Chiyoda and Shinagawa wards, the intensity was measured at 4. Fortunately, no tsunami warning was issued in response to the earthquake.

According to the agency, an upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale signifies a situation where many people experience difficulty walking.

This marked the first occurrence of an upper 5 quake in Chiba Prefecture since March 2012, as reported by the agency.

Written by staff