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| Japan Earthquake: Magnitude 5.8 quake hits off east coast of country | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 5.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off north eastern Japan, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said. | A 5.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off north eastern Japan, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said. |
| It was first registered as magnitude 6.1 by the USGS but this was later downgraded. | It was first registered as magnitude 6.1 by the USGS but this was later downgraded. |
| The quake was centered around 60 miles south east of Sendai, Honshu, near where a devastating quake and tsunami struck in March 2011. | The quake was centered around 60 miles south east of Sendai, Honshu, near where a devastating quake and tsunami struck in March 2011. |
| There have been no tsunami warnings issued, or immediate reports of damage or casualties. | There have been no tsunami warnings issued, or immediate reports of damage or casualties. |
| The country is still reeling from a series of strong quakes which struck in the south late last week, killing 48 people. | The country is still reeling from a series of strong quakes which struck in the south late last week, killing 48 people. |
| Powerful aftershocks have continued to keep the population on edge but most have been restricted to the southern Kyushu island. | Powerful aftershocks have continued to keep the population on edge but most have been restricted to the southern Kyushu island. |
| Hundreds of people in the previously afflicted Kumamoto area of south western Japan have been sleeping in their cars, afraid to return to damaged houses. | Hundreds of people in the previously afflicted Kumamoto area of south western Japan have been sleeping in their cars, afraid to return to damaged houses. |
| Around 100,000 have been displaced and sleeping in evacuation centres. | Around 100,000 have been displaced and sleeping in evacuation centres. |
| "I keep thinking the earthquakes will stop, but they just go on and on," one woman at an evacuation centre in Mashiki, one of the worst-hit areas, told Japanese broadcaster NHK. "It's really scary." | "I keep thinking the earthquakes will stop, but they just go on and on," one woman at an evacuation centre in Mashiki, one of the worst-hit areas, told Japanese broadcaster NHK. "It's really scary." |
| Of more than 680 aftershocks hitting Kyushu island since April 14, more than 89 have registered at magnitude 4 or more on Japan's intensity scale, strong enough to shake buildings. | Of more than 680 aftershocks hitting Kyushu island since April 14, more than 89 have registered at magnitude 4 or more on Japan's intensity scale, strong enough to shake buildings. |
| Heavy rain is expected over the area, raising fears that slopes weakened by the quakes could collapse. | Heavy rain is expected over the area, raising fears that slopes weakened by the quakes could collapse. |
| Authorities have begun condemning buildings and other structures deemed unsafe. Hundreds of buildings have collapsed, many brought down by their heavy traditional tile roofs. | Authorities have begun condemning buildings and other structures deemed unsafe. Hundreds of buildings have collapsed, many brought down by their heavy traditional tile roofs. |
| Though public buildings must abide by stringent safety standards, the law is lax for private homes. | Though public buildings must abide by stringent safety standards, the law is lax for private homes. |
| "When a big earthquake hits, structures may sustain damage that's impossible to fix if there's another quake within days," said Akira Wada, professor emeritus at Tokyo Institute of Technology. | "When a big earthquake hits, structures may sustain damage that's impossible to fix if there's another quake within days," said Akira Wada, professor emeritus at Tokyo Institute of Technology. |
| Most of those who were killed had returned to their homes after the first quake. | Most of those who were killed had returned to their homes after the first quake. |
| Reuters | Reuters |