Najib experiences earthquake in Tokyo

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has a first-hand experience of earthquake during his visit here today.

The Malaysian Prime Minister was attending a round-table meeting with captains of industry at the fourth floor of the Palace Hotel when a 5.6 richter scale earthquake shook Tokyo and surrounding areas at about 2.28pm local time (1.28pm Malaysian time).

Hotel sirens rang while hand phones of those present blared as the tremor was felt for about 30 seconds.

Najib, who looked unfazed, continued to listen to the speech by Japan-Malaysia Economic Association president, Mikio Sasaki as security personnel and hotel staff scrambled out to investigate.\

However, the prime minister later tweeted: "I felt the tremor, floor and light were shaking. However, all is calm, Alhamdulillah."

Operation of the subway was briefly halted while people came out from high rise buildings.

A local staff of the Malaysian Embassy here said it was the first earthquake experienced this year.

"After the major earthquake in 2011, we had experienced several tremors but this is the first time this year," she said.

According to local reports, the earthquake struck at a depth of 50km.

The quake was centered in Ibaraki Prefecture, Kanto Region on the main island of Honshu, and about 34km from here.

Authorities also closed down both runways of Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.