Strong 7.2 quake strikes off northern Japan, no tsunami warning

A powerful earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast on Thursday, but authorities said there was no risk of a tsunami.

The quake, which had a magnitude of 7.2, struck off the eastern coast of Iwate Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which upgraded its initial estimate of 6.9. The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 50 kilometres (30 miles). The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at magnitude 6.9.

The tremor struck a region that has experienced a series of strong earthquakes in recent months, including one that prompted a week-long megaquake advisory in December.

The earthquake hit north-eastern Japan during Thursday morning’s rush hour and was also felt mildly in Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government’s emergency response team was “putting people’s lives first” as it assessed the situation and prepared for possible relief operations.

She urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant against potential aftershocks.

Tomoko Nagane, principal of a primary school in the town of Hashikami in Aomori Prefecture, told NHK that she was driving when the earthquake alert sounded and felt moderate side-to-side shaking.

Children who had already arrived at the school were safe, she said, although some were frightened and in tears. Classes were cancelled for the day and all pupils were sent home safely.

Footage broadcast by public broadcaster NHK showed normal commuter activity across affected areas. Journalists reporting from several of the hardest-hit cities, including Sendai and Morioka, said the shaking lasted for a couple of minutes but that they had not witnessed any significant damage.

East Japan Railway Co. said some bullet train services and local rail lines in the north-east had been temporarily suspended while safety inspections were carried out.

Kihara said no abnormalities had been reported at nuclear facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged during the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. A spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facility in Aomori Prefecture also reported no issues.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, sitting along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and generate frequent seismic activity.