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Our Daily Planet: China's Deadly Earthquake and Great Barrier Reef Recovery

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

China Earthquake: An magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck China, near the border with Myanmar, killing at least 22 people.

Japan Earthquake: A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Honshu, Japan, this morning, one day after a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck northern Japan, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) offshore and 267 miles (430 km) northeast of Tokyo. No damage or injuries were reported in either quake.

Great Barrier Reef Recovery: Earlier this year, Cyclone Yasi socked Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which will need decades to recover.

Major Flooding: Heavy rains today are expected to flood Mid-Atlantic states, including parts of New Jersey and New York. [Related: East Coast Storm Seen From Space .]

Previously on Our Daily Planet: Philly Flower Show and Kilauea Tourism

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.