09.03.2011, 10:59 3296

Strong quake hits northeast Japan

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan on Wednesday, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Almaty. March 9. Kazakhstan Today - A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan on Wednesday, Kazakhstan Today reports.

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 hit off the coast of northeastern Japan on Wednesday, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, but there were so far no reports of damage from the quake, Reuters reported.

A tsunami advisory of up to 50 cm (about 20 inches) was issued for northeastern Japan after the quake hit around 11:45 a.m. (9:45 p.m. ET), JMA said.

The focus of the tremor was 10 km (6 miles) below the surface of the earth, off the coast of Aomori prefecture, public broadcaster NHK said.

An official at the National Police Agency said there was no information on damage from the quake so far.

Tohoku Electric Power said its Onagawa nuclear plant was operating normally after the quake. Tokyo Electric Power also said there was no impact on its power plants in the region.

Bullet trains resumed running in northeastern Japan after stopping briefly, Kyodo news agency reported.

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.

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