Tsunami warning for Japan
2004-09-05 12:40
Tokyo - A strong earthquake shook western Japan on Sunday. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The quake, which struck shortly after 19:00, had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 and was centered some 10km beneath the ocean floor, 110km off the coast of the Kii peninsula.
The quake was felt most strongly in the cities of Nara and Wakayama on the Kii peninsula, which lies about 450km west of Tokyo. It made tall buildings in central Tokyo sway.
The Meteorological Agency warned that tsunami - huge waves triggered by seismic activity - could hit the coast of Wakayama and warned residents to stay inland.
Japan, which rests atop several tectonic plates, is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries.
A magnitude 6 quake can inflict widespread damage in a populated area.
- AP