A strong earthquake struck central Japan early Sunday, shattering store windows and leaving at least 22 people injured, according to local media cited by The Associated Press.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 5.7, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 5.5. Smaller aftershocks were also reported.

The earthquake struck at 1:04 a.m. at a depth of about 40 kilometres in Shizuoka Prefecture, according to AP’s report by Yuri Kageyama, published by CityNews. Official seismic assessments placed the strongest shaking in neighbouring Aichi Prefecture.

The affected area included Hamamatsu, Kyoto and Nara, as well as Yamanashi and Gifu prefectures. The quake was not felt in Tokyo, AP reported.

Japanese television footage showed broken shop windows and glass scattered across streets. At one bookstore, piles of books had fallen from shelves. Some of those injured fell on stairs while trying to flee buildings, according to the report.

Shinkansen bullet trains were operating at reduced speeds in affected areas as a precaution because earthquakes can damage railway infrastructure.

Sources