Japan News: Quake Hits Central Japan

Quake Hits Central Japan, No Nuclear Reactor Problem Reported
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

JULY 15, 2011, 9:17 A.M. ET
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A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit the Kanto region in central Japan Friday night, shaking office buildings in central Tokyo and suspending the bullet train service. No tsunami warning was issued.

No problems were reported at the area's nuclear power plants, including Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (9501.TO) Fukushima Daiichi plant, which was crippled by the quake and tsunami on March 11. A nuclear power plant operated by Japan Atomic Power Co. in Tokai Village also suffered no damage, despite its proximity to the quake's epicenter in southern Ibaraki Prefecture.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, that epicenter was about 57 kilometers, or 35 miles, northeast of Tokyo. Its depth was about 60 kilometers, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The quake measured three on the Japanese scale in central Tokyo and four in some parts of neighboring prefectures of Chiba and Saitama. In the southern part of Tochigi prefecture further north, the level was slightly below five.

The state broadcaster NHK reported some bullet train operation was suspended in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.
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-By Kosaku Narioka, Dow Jones Newswires; 81.3.6269.2770; kosaku.narioka@dowjones.com