Central Japan, Indonesia hit by strong earthquakes; no damages reported

The eastern coast of central Japan on Sunday was hit by a strong earthquake, rattling buildings of the country, including the crowded Tokyo capital.

The government said that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, and there was no danger from tsunamis. Television images from the regions near where the quake was centered showed no damage, with cars driving normally.

Japan's early warning system predicted the earthquake just before it hit, with public broadcaster NHK interrupting a sumo match to warn residents to take cover.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake had an initial estimated magnitude of 6.6 and it hit at 0808 GMT on Sunday, or 5:08 p.m. local time

The earthquake was centered about 50 miles off the eastern coast of central Fukushima Prefecture, and struck at a depth of 25 miles (40 kilometers). It was strong enough to gently sway buildings in Tokyo, about 185 miles (300 kilometers) to the southwest, for several seconds.

The country is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the western port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people.

Quake in Indonesia

An equally powerful quake with a magnitude of 7.0 hit off the eastern Indonesian island of Maluku today, seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake struck at 0757 am local time (1257 GMT) about 132 kilometres southeast of Labuha, North Maluku province, at a depth of 56 kilometres, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude at 6.4.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.

- Asian Tribune -