Strong Quake Strikes Japan

An earthquake registering 7.2 on the Richter scale knocked down houses and injured dozens in Japan earlier today, according to various news reports.

Perched on the Pacific Rim's "circle of fire", Japan is no stranger to quakes and has a well-developed infrastructure to handle the aftermath of both land-based temblors and tsunamis that periodically strike the island nation.

Here's hoping that rescue efforts go well and that those afflicted recover quickly.