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Magnitude 5.9 quake hits southern Ibaraki, intensity lower 5 in Kanto; about 40 injured
N3 disaster Original · 1 min read · 36 views · 40 words

関東で震度5弱の地震 茨城県南部でM5.9 約40人が負傷

Magnitude 5.9 quake hits southern Ibaraki, intensity lower 5 in Kanto; about 40 injured

2026年8月23日午前2時ごろ、茨城県いばらきけん南部を震源しんげんとする地震じしんが発生はっせいしました。震度しんど5弱じゃくを茨城県や埼玉県さいたまけん、千葉県ちばけん、東京都とうきょうとの17の市区町村で観測かんそくしました。

Around 2 a.m. on 23 August 2026, an earthquake with its epicenter in southern Ibaraki Prefecture occurred. A seismic intensity of lower 5 was observed in 17 municipalities across Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba and Tokyo.

気象庁きしょうちょうによると、震源の深さふかさは約68キロ、マグニチュードマグニチュードは5.9と推定すいていされています。この地震による津波つなみの心配はありません。関東地方を中心に広い範囲で揺れゆれを感じました。

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the depth was about 68 km and the magnitude was estimated at 5.9. There was no tsunami threat. Shaking was felt over a wide area, mainly in the Kanto region.

地震の影響えいきょうで、関東の5都県で少なくとも40人以上が負傷ふしょうしました。ほとんどは軽傷けいしょうですが、神奈川県では80代の女性がベッドから落ちて重傷じゅうしょうを負いました。転倒てんとうや家具への衝突しょうとつが主な原因げんいんです。

At least 40 people were injured across five prefectures in the Kanto region. Most injuries were minor, but a woman in her 80s in Kanagawa Prefecture was seriously hurt after falling from bed. Falls and collisions with furniture were the main causes.

気象庁は、揺れの強かった地域では今後1週間程度、最大さいだい震度5弱程度の地震に注意ちゅういするよう呼びかけよびかけています。特に2〜3日は同じ規模きぼの地震が起きやすいと説明せつめいしています。

The agency urged people in areas that experienced strong shaking to remain alert for quakes of up to lower 5 intensity for about a week. Similar-sized quakes are more likely in the next two to three days.

東京都江東区では水道管すいどうかんが破裂はれつし、道路に水があふれました。一部の電車も一時運転うんてんを見合わせみあわせましたが、大きな建物の倒壊とうかいは報告ほうこくされていません。

In Tokyo’s Koto Ward a water pipe ruptured and flooded a road. Some train services were temporarily suspended, but no major building collapses were reported.

この地震は太平洋プレートとフィリピン海プレートの境界きょうかいで起きた逆断層ぎゃくだんそう型だと分析されています。今後の余震よしんに十分警戒けいかいし、家具かぐの固定や避難ひなん経路の確認を勧めるすすめる声が上がっています。

The quake is analyzed as a reverse-fault type that occurred at the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate. Experts urge continued caution against aftershocks, securing furniture and checking evacuation routes.

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Frequently asked questions

What does 震度5弱 mean?

It is the fifth lowest level of vibration in Japan's 10-step scale. At this level, unstable furniture can fall, many people feel scared, but houses built to earthquake-proof standards are usually not seriously damaged.

Why do we have to pay attention to aftershocks for a week after an earthquake?

According to statistics from the Meteorological Agency, after a major earthquake, the probability of aftershocks of the same intensity within a few days to a week is about 10–20%. In particular, the first 2–3 days are the period most likely to have strong aftershocks.

How big is the M5.9?

M (magnitude) 5.9 is quite strong on average. Enough to cause obvious shaking over a large area and cause many people to suffer minor injuries due to falls or impacts, but rarely cause building collapse if the building meets Japanese earthquake resistance standards.

What does 逆断層型 mean?

A type of fault in which one block of rock slides above another along an inclined plane. This is a common mechanism at tectonic plate boundaries around Japan.

Source: Reading exercises compiled by JNews

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