A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake shakes Japan and Venezuela

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck northern Japan on Thursday. The quake struck off the northern coast of Iwate on the main island of Honshu, with its epicenter at a depth of 50 kilometers, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Many parts of the country, including Tokyo, were shaken by the quake. The sudden tremors sent people into a panic. Objects in their homes were scattered. People in their homes ran out in fear for their lives.