Tokyo Shaken Again by Earthquake After Two Months; Governor Startled During Speech

Just before 8:00 p.m., the earthquake alert sounds, and the NTV newsroom in Tokyo begins preparing for a breaking news report.

[Gunma Prefecture, seismic intensity 5-lower. It is 5-lower.]

A camera at the broadcasting station capturing the nearby Shimbashi Station also shakes violently.

At approximately 7:46 p.m. on June 16, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the areas of Gunma and Saitama Prefectures in central Honshu, Japan, causing tremors to be felt as far as Tokyo, about 80 kilometers away.

The lively atmosphere at bars and restaurants instantly froze at the sound of the alarm.

[It's an earthquake. This is serious.]

At the same time, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike was delivering a speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.

[Yuriko Koike/Governor of Tokyo: I will speak about wage increases. For workers to have peace of mind... Is everyone okay?]

The Governor stopped her speech, and the proceedings were suspended.

[Yuriko Koike/Governor of Tokyo: That was quite strong.]

In Gunma Prefecture, where the shaking was most intense, a seismic intensity of 5-lower was recorded, strong enough to cause dishes to fall from shelves and unsecured furniture to topple over.

[Gunma Prefecture Resident: It was a short time, but it shook really hard. It reminded me of the Great East Japan Earthquake 15 years ago.]

Public transportation was halted, causing inconvenience to commuters heading home.

[Office Worker: The trains are delayed. Is it going to be late?]

Some Shinkansen bullet trains experienced sudden power outages in their interior lights and came to an emergency stop.

[Passenger: I was surprised when the Shinkansen suddenly hit the brakes and stopped.]

The area around the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, the epicenter, is where three tectonic plates meet, making it one of Japan's most earthquake-prone regions.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake off the coast of Sanriku two months ago, which also sent tremors to Tokyo, is related to this triple-plate structure.

The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that the possibility of this leading to a massive earthquake is low, but advised the public to remain cautious for the next week.

(Video reporting: Han Cheol-min, Moon Hyun-jin | Video editing: Kim Byeong-jik | Graphics: Kim Ye-ji)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.