A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Kanto region centered on Tokyo at about 2 a.m. on August 23, injuring at least 38 people.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter was in southern Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 68 kilometers.

The quake measured lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in parts of Tokyo, Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures.

Shaking of lower intensity was felt over a wide range of areas including the Tohoku region in the northeast and the Osaka area in western Japan.

Agency officials urged people to remain alert for earthquakes of similar strength in the coming week.

Authorities said 15 people were injured in Tokyo, nine in Kanagawa, nine in Saitama, four in Chiba and one in Ibaraki.

At Ushiku city hall in Ibaraki Prefecture, part of the second-floor ceiling fell, but no injuries were reported.

In Tokyo, a water pipe burst in Koto Ward, causing water to flood onto a roadway.

At a supermarket in Adachi Ward, a large amount of fire extinguishing agent was discharged, leaving the sidewalks in front of the store covered in foam.

The earthquake is believed to have caused a malfunction in the fire suppression equipment, triggering the accidental discharge.