31.   A moderate earthquake jolted the Tokyo area Tuesday evening, only hours after a stronger temblor shook the northern island of Hokkaido, the Japanese meteorological agency said.

32.   A moderate earthquake measuring four on the Richter scale shook southern Japan Tuesday, but there was no danger of tsunami tidal waves, the meteorological agency said.

33.   A strong earthquake rocked large areas of central Japan late Wednesday, the meteorological agency said.

34.   Aftershocks from a strong quake three days ago continued rocking southern Japan on Saturday, but they have become less frequent, the meteorological agency said.

35.   Although some seismologists have said the quakes and volcanic activity were releated, the meteorological agency denied this.

36.   But Sudarajat said that according to the meteorological agency, rain was expected Friday night in the capital.

37.   But the meteorological agency said they were unrelated.

38.   By Tuesday morning, it was bearing down on islands further north including Amami Oshima, the meteorological agency said.

39.   By Tuesday evening, it moved out of Okinawa and was traveling northwest of Amami Oshima, the meteorological agency said.

40.   The meteorological agency said that quakes were likely to continue for some time, warning that a much stronger jolt may hit the area.