Strong Earthquake Jolts Tokyo

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 13, 2003

Strong Earthquake Jolts Tokyo

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale hit Tokyo and surrounding prefectures in eastern Japan on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, the Japan Meteorological Agency and police said.

The Japanese agency said the earthquake, which struck at 12:13 p.m. (local time), registered 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in southern Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma prefectures and parts of Saitama Prefecture, while it registered 3 on the Japanese scale in Tokyo's 23 wards.

Tsunami warnings were not issued after the quake, which had a focus about 50 kilometers underground in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture.

A quake of 4 on the Japanese scale is strong enough to wake up most sleeping people.

Highway interchanges in Tochigi and Utsunomiya on the Tohoku Expressway were closed due to the quake, while operations of the JR Nikko Line were temporarily halt.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China's Social Security System Takes Shape ( 2 Messages)

American People-Populace Haunted by Worries of War ( 10 Messages)

International Diplomatic Strife over Iraq Issue: Signed Article ( 33 Messages)

American Empire Steps Up Fourth Expansion: News Analysis ( 34 Messages)

New Type of Nuclear Reactor Put into Use in Beijing ( 39 Messages)