Earthquake hits eastern Japan, but no tsunami warning

A strong earthquake hit eastern Japan on Friday, but there was no tsunami warning, according to public broadcaster NHK. The tremor struck at 7:03 pm local time, with a magnitude of 6.2, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, shaking buildings in Tokyo as well as neighboring prefectures, but there were no immediate reports of major damage. The epicenter was near Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, at a depth of 50 kilometers. NHK footage showed buildings shaking near Narita International Airport in Chiba. Airport authorities were checking their runways for damage, NHK said. The East Japan Railway Company said it would suspend some train services in Chiba. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Japan is responsible for about a fifth of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. *Reproduction of this content is prohibited.

Agência Brasil