Strong earthquake strikes central Japan, at least 22 injured

A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.7 struck central Japan, injuring at least 22 people.

Japan's weather agency put the magnitude at 5.7, while the United States Geological Survey said the quake was of magnitude 5.5.

The tremor was so strong that the glass windows of many shops shattered. Video broadcast on Japanese television showed broken glass scattered on the streets, and in one bookshop every book had fallen from the shelves to the floor.

Many of those injured were hurt on staircases while rushing down quickly.

The earthquake struck at 1:04am local time. Its epicentre was in Shizuoka. Aichi and Shizuoka are located next to each other.

The Associated Press reported that the quake's impact spread across a wide area including Hamamatsu city in Aichi prefecture. People in Yamanashi also felt it, the area where Japan's famous Mount Fuji is located.

Several aftershocks, or smaller earthquakes, followed the main quake.

Tokyo is far from these two regions, so no one there felt the tremor.

AP reported that as a precaution, bullet trains in the affected areas are running at reduced speed, amid concerns that the railway lines may have been damaged by the quake.

With aftershocks continuing and the condition of the railway lines being checked, trains are being run cautiously in the region.