A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki Prefecture on Tuesday evening, rattling parts of eastern Japan, including the greater Tokyo metropolitan area, but authorities said there was no threat of a tsunami.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at 7:46 p.m. local time and registered a lower 5 on Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale (shindo) in parts of southern Ibaraki Prefecture. The tremor was also felt across neighboring prefectures, including areas of Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, and Tochigi Prefecture.

The JMA confirmed shortly after the quake that no tsunami warning or advisory had been issued, stating that the earthquake posed no risk of tsunami generation.

As of late Tuesday evening, authorities had not reported any deaths or serious injuries linked to the earthquake. Local governments and emergency services were conducting assessments to determine whether any structural damage had occurred.

Train operators temporarily carried out safety inspections on some rail lines in the affected region, causing minor delays to services. Utility providers also began checks of electricity, gas, and water infrastructure, although no widespread disruptions had been reported.

Officials further said that inspections of critical facilities, including industrial sites and nuclear-related installations in the region, had not revealed any abnormalities in the immediate aftermath of the tremor.

The Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks in the coming days, noting that earthquakes of similar intensity can occasionally be followed by additional seismic activity.

Japan, located along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences thousands of earthquakes each year. The country's strict building standards and advanced early warning systems have helped reduce the impact of many seismic events.

Tuesday's earthquake served as another reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness in one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations.

Authorities advised residents to secure furniture, review emergency plans, and continue monitoring official updates from the JMA and local governments as precautionary measures. (ILKHA)