Light earthquake shakes Tokyo area, no tsunami

Tokyo, June 28: A light earthquake rattled the Tokyo area today, but no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The earthquake hit at 6:26 pm (1456 ist) and had a preliminary magnitude of 4.1, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The focus of the termor was 10 km underground in the western part of the Tokyo metropolitan district, outside the central city.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of all earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

In October 2004, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the Niigata region of northern Japan, killing 65 people and injuring more than 3,000.

That was the deadliest quake since a magnitude 7.3 tremor hit the city of Kobe in 1995, killing more than 6,400.

Reuters>