TOKYO: A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Tokyo
Sunday as Emperor Akihito led Japan's New Year celebrations by
urging people to work together in rebuilding the nation from
March's quake-tsunami disaster.
The tremor struck at 2:28pm (0528 GMT) with its
focus deep at about 370 kilometres (230 miles), Japan's
Meteorological Agency said. The US Geological Survey put the depth
at 348 kilometres.
Its epicentre was located near Torishima, a
northwestern Pacific island about 560 kilometres south of
Tokyo.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injury and no tsunami
warning was issued.
The mid-afternoon quake swayed buildings in Tokyo and surrounding
areas but it did not disrupt the final of the Emperor's Cup
football tournament under way at the National Stadium.
"Some people, who were walking, did not seem to notice the quake,"
a spokesman for Tokyo Disneyland said, adding business went on as
usual at the theme park after some rides were automatically shut
down.
He did not give the number of visitors on the day but estimated it
at several tens of thousands.
Train runs and airline flights in and around the capital area were
not affected.
A 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami ravaged the country's
northeast on March 11, killing more than 19,000 people, and
crippled a nuclear power plant which has been since leaking
radiation into the environment.
In a New Year message, Emperor Akihito said: "Our country is now
going through difficult times because of the earthquake and other
factors."
"But I hope that the people's hearts will always be with the
afflicted, and that everyone will persevere and work together to
build a brighter tomorrow."
Wishes for the nation's recovery appeared to have dominated as the
new year started in Japan with tens of thousands of people flocking
to Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples to offer money and pray for
good fortune.
- AFP/cc