Earthquake shakes buildings in Tokyo, no tsunami threat

Tokyo — A strong earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo on Saturday, setting off car alarms as it rattled the Japanese capital, an AFP correspondent in the city reported.

Residential buildings swayed for around a minute as the quake built in intensity at around 8.30pm (1130 GMT).

The US Geological Survey reported a 7.8-magnitude earthquake approximately 874 kilometres (543 miles) from Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which said the earthquake had a magnitude of 8.5, was at a depth of 696 kilometres.