Moderate earthquake strikes off Japanese coast
Posted: 15 December 2008 0607 hrs

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TOKYO: A moderate 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Japanese island of Honshu on Monday, the US Geological Survey said.

No tsunami warning was immediately issued and there were no reports of damage.

The quake struck at 6:29 am (2029 GMT Sunday), with the epicentre off the island's east coast 296 kilometres from Morioka, the agency said. It was recorded at a depth of 31 kilometres.

Around 20 percent of the world's most powerful earthquakes strike Japan. - AFP/de