Weather and Natural Disasters

Japan earthquake: Large but very deep temblor strikes offshore

Watch Berkshire
Tokyo
Getty Images

A powerful and extremely deep earthquake struck near remote Japanese islands and shook Tokyo on Saturday, but officials said there was no danger of a tsunami, and no injuries or damage were immediately reported.

The magnitude-8.5 offshore earthquake struck off the Ogasawara islands at 8:24 p.m. at a depth of 370 miles, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.8 and a depth of 421 miles.

Public broadcaster NHK said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Read MoreFresh Nepal earthquake kills dozens, triggers panic

More from NBC News:

Death toll in India's heat wave rises to 1,800
Germany shines light on rape by troops who beat Nazis
US slams China over 'militarization' of disputed isles

But the temblor was powerful enough to rattle large parts of Japan's main island of Honshu. Buildings swayed in Tokyo — about 620 miles north of the Ogasawara islands — and stopped some train services in the city. There were reports that parts of the capital were without power.

The meteorological agency did not issue a tsunami warning because the quake struck so far beneath the earth's surface. Deep offshore earthquakes usually do not cause tsunamis, and generally cause less damage than shallow ones

Berkshire Hathaway Live Event