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Moderate 5.0 Earthquake Hits Close to Tokyo
Friday, July 23, 2010 » 11:49am



A 5.0-magnitude earthquake hit central Japan early on Friday not far from Tokyo.

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake hit central Japan early on Friday not far from Tokyo, but there was no tsunami warning and no immediate reports of damage, US and Japanese seismologists said.

The quake happened at 6.06am (0706 AEST), 60km northeast of Tokyo, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Its depth was estimated at 56km, USGS said.

Around 20 per cent of the world's most powerful earthquakes strike Japan, which has developed one of the most sophisticated tsunami warning systems. Residents routinely hold drills to prepare for major earthquakes.