Quake shakes buildings in Tokyo

A strong earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo today, setting off car alarms as it rattled the Japanese capital.

Residential buildings swayed for around a minute as the quake built in intensity at around 8.30pm (1130 GMT), an AFP correspondent in the city reported.

The US Geological Survey reported a 7.8-magnitude earthquake approximately 874 kilometres 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.