Earthquake Strikes Japan

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Japan early Tuesday, rocking buildings in the capital city but causing no tsunami. No injuries or damage were immediately reported.

The quake struck at 3:18 a.m. Tuesday and was centered 105 miles underground in Shizuoka state, about 94 miles west of Tokyo, Japan's meteorological agency said.

Light shaking was felt in Tokyo and as far as Aomori prefecture, some 360 miles northeast of the capital.

Tuesday's quake came after a magnitude 8.2 temblor off northern Japan triggered tsunami warnings Saturday, sending thousands fleeing to higher ground but causing no reported injuries or damage.

That quake struck below the seabed about 310 miles east of a disputed island chain known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Kuril islands in Russia.

More than three hours after the quake, the largest wave, at 16 inches, hit Chichi-jima, an island of 2,000 people about 620 miles south of Tokyo.

Japan sits atop four tectonic plates and is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.

The last devastating quake to hit Tokyo was in 1923, when a magnitude 8.3 temblor killed 142,000 people. Powerful quakes in 1703, 1782, 1812 and 1855 also caused considerable damage in Tokyo.