05 May,2014 09:03 AM IST | | Agencies
A powerful earthquake shakes buildings in Tokyo early today, but officials rule out a tsunami risk
Tokyo: A powerful earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo early today, reporters in the Japanese capital said, but officials said there was no risk of a tsunami.
The epicenter of the quake which struck at 0148 IST today was near Izu Oshima island southwest of central Tokyo, the Japanese meteorological agency said.
The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 5.8 and struck at a depth of 156 kilometers. National broadcaster NHK said there were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.
The station said Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), the operator of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, said there were no abnormal signs at the reactors.
Japan is situated at the meeting place of a number of tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year.
However, strict building codes frequently mean that even powerful quakes that might wreak havoc in other countries can pass without much damage.
