A strong earthquake struck northern Japan on Saturday, shaking even in Tokyo and prompting a tsunami alert for part of the north coast. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the strength at a strength of 7.0 and a depth of 54 kilometers (33.5 miles). The shaking started just before 18:10
The quake was centered on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, in the country’s rugged northeast, which was badly damaged during the great earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that killed more than 18,000 people.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami up to 1 meter (yard) high for Miyagi Prefecture immediately after the earthquake, but lifted it about 90 minutes later. The tsunami could have already reached parts of the Miyagi coast, Japanese NHK public television said.
Officials there said there were no immediate reports of damage.
The strong moods caused a temporary eclipse in some areas and suspended bullet train services in the area, NHK said.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no deviations had been detected at nuclear power plants in the region, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which collapsed in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Akira Wakimoto, a crisis management official in the city of Tome in Miyagi Prefecture, said he was in his apartment when the quake struck, and he felt his room tremble for a long time.
In a coastal town of Ofunato, Shotaro Suzuki, a hotel employee, said there was a temporary eclipse and elevators stopped shortly before, but power was restored and there were no other problems.
“At first our guests seemed worried, but they all returned to their rooms, and our facility looked good,” Suzuki told NHK.
In mid-February, another powerful earthquake in the region killed one person and injured more than 180, although most injuries were minor. The quake damaged roads, train lines and thousands of homes. It also slightly damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Noriko Kamaya, spokesman for the Japanese Meteorological Agency, said at a news conference that Saturday’s earthquake was considered a aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011. Kamaya urged people to be careful and leave to stay off the coastline due to possible high waves.