Quake Jolts Northeast Japan, 50cm Tsunami Warning Issued

Posted July 9th, 2011 at 10:00 pm (UTC-5)
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A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7 has hit off Japan's northeast coast, prompting a warning of a possible small tsunami.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an alert for a tsunami of 50 centimeters for a region that includes Fukushima, which was heavily damaged by a March earthquake and tsunami.

The agency said the earthquake hit Sunday morning local time in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's main island of Honshu.

There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the earthquake. Initial reports had estimated the quake's magnitude at 7.1, but it was later revised downward.

The March earthquake and tsunami devastated much of coastal northeastern Japan, and left some 23,000 people dead or missing. The twin disasters also touched off a nuclear crisis at a badly damaged nuclear facility in Fukushima.