AFP, NHK (Japan)
TOKYO – A powerful earthquake shook Tokyo on Monday, with buildings swaying for 30 seconds, but few reports of injuries.
The magnitude 5.7 quake was centered in the mountain resort town of Nikko, about 140 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, reports the AFP. Earlier reports had put the quake at magnitude 6.2.
The quake struck at 4:23 p.m. local time, rocking Nikko, a popular resort known for its onsen (hot springs) as well as historical temples and shrines listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. It is not known yet whether the earthquake damaged any of the temples.
National broadcaster NHK said there had been no abnormalities detected at nuclear power plants near the epicenter.
Magnitude 6.2 Intensity 5+ earthquake Feb-25 16:23 JST at Tochigi-ken Hokubu (36.9N/139.4E) Depth 10 km j.mp/138FIb2#earthquake
— Japan Earthquake (@jEarthquake) February 25, 2013
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) February 25, 2013
Dishes, glasses broken at an inn in #Nikko after M6.3 quake hit Tochigi, but no guests injured. via @nhk_shutoken
— Thoton Akimoto (@thoton) February 25, 2013