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Strongest earthquake felt in Tokyo in 10 years injures dozens, disrupts morning commute

  • The late night 5.9 magnitude quake was the most powerful in Tokyo since the 2011 earthquake that triggered a tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster
  • Japanese officials warned of aftershocks and said trains and water pipes were damaged and a commuter train partially derailed

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A Nippori-Toneri Liner train that derailed slightly in Tokyo's Adachi Ward after a magnitude-5.9 earthquake jolted the Tokyo region on Thursday night. Photo: Kyodo
A powerful magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the Tokyo area of Japan on Thursday night, injuring more than 30 people, damaging underground water pipes and halting trains and undergrounds.
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Officials said there was no danger of a tsunami but traffic was disrupted on Friday morning, with local trains delayed and commuters overflowing from stations.

The Meteorological Agency said the quake was centred in Chiba prefecture, just east of Tokyo, at a depth of about 80km (48 miles). It warned of aftershocks for up to a week.

The earthquake caused buildings to sway and hanging objects such as signs to swing violently.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there were no abnormalities at nuclear power facilities in the area.

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Most trains operated on Friday morning but with major delays and entry restrictions to avoid overcrowding. There was a long waiting line outside Shinjuku station in Tokyo, and hundreds of morning commuters were overflowing from the Kawaguchi station.

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