Japanese authorities take steps to blunt big quake

Concern over a major earthquake, prompted by hundreds of small tremors over two weeks, was intensified when a quake measuring 6.7 on the open-ended Richter scale jolted Tokyo Sunday. There were several tremors Monday and nine more Tuesday in central Japan. Central and local government officials began taking preparatory measures in anticipation of an earthquake the one that flattened Tokyo in 1923, killing more than 140,000. The quake registered 8.3 on the Richter scale.