A powerful earthquake registering a magnitude of 5.9 struck Niigata Prefecture on Monday, injuring at least 10 people.
The quake came just as local authorities and residents were trying to get their lives back on track in the wake of a series of strong temblors that have hit the area since Oct. 23. Students of all public schools in the quake-hit region resumed classes Monday morning.
The Meteorological Agency said there is about a 20 percent chance that quakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or stronger will hit the area in the next three days, and about a 40 percent chance of quakes of 5.0 magnitude or stronger.