No immediate reports of damage, tsunami after magnitude 5.5 quake

An aerial view of the Tokyo.
© Getty ImagesAn aerial view of the Tokyo.
TOKYO - A powerful earthquake shook central Tokyo on Monday afternoon, causing the temporary suspension of some bullet trains and the closure of airport runways at one of the capital's air hubs.

There was no danger of a tsunami and no initial reports of any damage, according to national broadcaster NHK.

The magnitude 5.6 quake, centered north of Tokyo, struck at 0528 GMT. It measured a lower 5 on Japan's earthquake intensity scale in southern Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo. The intensity scale has a highest reading of 7.

Narita International Airport temporarily closed its two runways following the quake, but Haneda airport, located closer to the center of Tokyo, was running flights as scheduled, according to NHK.

Some bullet shinkansen train services were temporarily suspended following the temblor, NHK also said.

There were no reports of irregularities at the Tokaimura nuclear plant in southern Ibaraki, the national broadcaster said.