Moderate quake hits near Tokyo

A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on early Saturday, but there was no tsunami warning and no immediate reports of damage, officials said.

A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on early Saturday, but there was no tsunami warning and no immediate reports of damage, officials said.

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The quake hit 5.55am (2055 GMT) in Chiba prefecture, around 60 kilometres (40 miles) southeast of Tokyo, at a depth of 18 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake only affected Chiba and areas near Tokyo, more than 200 kilometres away from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

There was no danger of a tsunami resulting from the quake, the Japanese agency said.