5.4 quake shakes Japan

5.4 quake shakes Japan, damages castle
From correspondents in Tokyo From: AFP June 30, 2011 1:55PM
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake has hit central Japan, injuring several people and causing cracks in a 16th-century samurai castle listed as a national treasure.

The quake hit at 8.16am local time today with the shallow focus located in Nagano prefecture, some 180km north-west of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It was followed by smaller aftershocks.

The tremor damaged Matsumoto Castle in Nagano, causing cracks in the inner walls of a tower built in the late 16th century, according to a municipal official.

Television footage showed fallen concrete bricks and roof tiles in the area.

Public broadcaster NHK said the morning tremor injured nine people, including a woman who fell off her bed.