Earthquake strikes northern Japan

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook northern Japan today but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake shook northern Japan today but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, officials said.

HT Image

The country's meteorological agency said there was no risk of a tsunami from the quake, which hit at 9:13 am (0543 IST).

The epicentre was about 50 kilometres below sea level in the Pacific Ocean off Fukushima prefecture, some 200 kilometres from Tokyo, according to the agency.

Around 20 percent of the world's most powerful earthquakes strike Japan.