Magnitude 5.5 quake hits Japan's Chiba Prefecture

TOKYO: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck the northeastern part of Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, early Thursday, Kyodo News reported, citing the country's weather agency.

The quake, which occurred at 12.07am local time and measured lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, originated at a depth of about 52 kilometres and posed no tsunami threat, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

A lower 5 reading was recorded in Yokoshibahikari, while weaker shaking was registered in other parts of the prefecture. The quake was also felt in Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures, including Tochigi, Ibaraki and Saitama.

The agency initially reported the quake's magnitude as 5.4 and estimated that it had occurred at a depth of about 50km.