(Adds no tsunami warning) WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A shallow, strong earthquake of 5.7 magnitude hit the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on Saturday morning local time, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter of the quake was 49 miles (79 km) southeast of Sapporo and just 3.6 miles (5.8 km) deep, it said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, and Japan's meteorological agency said no tsunami warning was issued. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. (Editing by Jerry Norton)
Bo Bor, a Reuters photographer based in China, has won the second prize of the Spot News Stories category of the 2009 World Press Photo Contest with this photo of earthquake ...
