Minor Damage and Injuries Reported near Tokyo Following a 5.4-Magnitude Earthquake

Several people were injured and minor damage was reported after a pre-dawn earthquake shook the Japanese capital, Tokyo, and its surrounding areas on Thursday.

The quake had a magnitude of 5.4 and its epicenter was in Chiba Prefecture, southeast of Tokyo, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No tsunami warning was issued.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said in a statement that the quake struck the eastern prefecture of Chiba and parts of the capital, Tokyo, at around 4:16 am (7:16 GMT Wednesday).

The agency warned that “earthquakes of a similar scale may occur for about a week” and there could be a “risk of rock falls and landslides”.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said four people were injured, including a man who was hit by a ceiling light falling off, and some rail services were also canceled or delayed.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and a massive 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed thousands and triggered a catastrophic meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.