TOKYO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Northern Japan was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 Thursday morning, triggering the shutdown of a nuclear power plant, Kyodo reported.
The epicenter was 12 miles below ground in the Niigata prefecture, where a 6.8 magnitude tremor 12 days ago killed at least 38 people and injured more than 3,000. The area is 125 miles northwest of Tokyo.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said the No. 7 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in the prefecture automatically shut down after the quake. The company said there was no danger of radioactive contamination.
Bullet train services in the region were suspended and some roads were closed, but Niigata airport was operating as usual, public broadcaster NHK said.
