A powerful magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the Tokyo area on Thursday night (local time), slightly injuring at least 12 people and halting trains and subways. Officials said there was no major damage or danger of a tsunami.
The Meteorological Agency said the quake was centred in Chiba prefecture, just east of Tokyo, at a depth of 80km.
It caused buildings to sway and hanging objects such as signs to swing violently. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there were no abnormalities at nuclear power facilities in the area.
