TOKYO: A strong earthquake rattled Japan's northern island of Hokkaido early Monday (April 27), US and Japanese meteorological agencies reported, the latest in a series of powerful tremors to hit the island nation.
The 6.1 magnitude quake struck shortly before 5:3 am (2130 GMT Sunday) in Hokkaido's southern region, at a depth of some 80km, the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the US Geological Survey both reported.
While no tsunami alert was issued, the quake comes less than a week after the JMA warned of an increased risk of a megaquake -- 8.0 magnitude or stronger -- after last Monday's 7.7 earthquake off northern Iwate prefecture. - AFP
