A strong earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 struck in the Kanto region north of Tokyo on Tuesday, but no tsunami alert was issued.

The 12:28 p.m. quake, which originated in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of around 50 km, registered lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Tochigi, Gunma and Saitama prefectures, and 4 in Tokyo, the Meteorological Agency said.

Japan Atomic Power Co. confirmed there were no abnormalities at its Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki Prefecture.