TOKYO, August 22. /TASS/. A 5.9-magnitude earthquake occurred in the central part of Japan, triggering the nationwide alert system, a TASS correspondent reported.

The tremors continued for about 20 seconds. Furniture was shaking and kitchenware dropped from shelves.

The epicenter was located in the Ibaraki prefecture that borders Tokyo, at the depth of 70 km. The national meteorological service has issued a tsunami alert, but it was lifted a few minutes later. It was ranked as a category five earthquake on Japan’s national seven-tier scale.

No damage or casualties have been reported.