This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2004, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
TOKYO - Two moderate earthquakes rattled an area in northern Japan still recovering from last month's magnitude 6.8 earthquake, the Meteorological Agency said today. No injuries were reported.
A magnitude 5.0 jolt struck at 4:50 a.m., followed by a magnitude 4.0 temblor about an hour later, the agency said.
Both earthquakes, aftershocks to last month's quake, were centered about six miles below the earth's surface in a rural part of Niigata prefecture (state) about 160 miles north of Tokyo.
The Oct. 23 earthquake and several large aftershocks in the days that followed killed 36 people and injured over 2,000.
More than 68,000 people remain in emergency shelters in Niigata because their homes were completely or partially destroyed in last month's quake. Many were too afraid to go home as aftershocks continue.
A magnitude 5 earthquake can cause damage to homes if it occurs in a residential area.
