jackovesk
10th July 2011, 02:53
A STRONG earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 has hit off the northeast Japan coast, prompting a tsunami warning.
The US Geological Agency, which also estimated the magnitude at 7.1, said the offshore quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres in the same general area as the 9.0-magnitude quake of March 11 which triggered a massive tsunami.
The quake hit at 9:57 local time (10.57AEST) and a warning of a possible tsunami was issued for most of the northeastern coastline.
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/07/10/1226091/647247-tsunami-warning-july-10-2011.jpg
Workers from the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactor, which was crippled after the March tsunami disaster, have been evacuated, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for for Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures.
The epicentre of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's main island, Honshu.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it had not received reports of any fresh problems at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the latest earthquake.
``We are still checking details, but cooling of reactors is continuing,'' a TEPCO spokeswoman said.
A small tsunami of up to 50 centimetres was expected along the affected region, the meteorological agency said.
Communities along the Pacific coast issued warnings and advisories for local residents to seek higher ground but no damage had been reported shortly after the quake.
Television footage of the affected coasts did not show any visible signs of a tsunami or major changes in the waters.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/tsunami-warning-as-strong-earthquake-hits-japan/story-e6freoox-1226091639155
The US Geological Agency, which also estimated the magnitude at 7.1, said the offshore quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres in the same general area as the 9.0-magnitude quake of March 11 which triggered a massive tsunami.
The quake hit at 9:57 local time (10.57AEST) and a warning of a possible tsunami was issued for most of the northeastern coastline.
http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2011/07/10/1226091/647247-tsunami-warning-july-10-2011.jpg
Workers from the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactor, which was crippled after the March tsunami disaster, have been evacuated, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for for Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures.
The epicentre of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's main island, Honshu.
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it had not received reports of any fresh problems at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the latest earthquake.
``We are still checking details, but cooling of reactors is continuing,'' a TEPCO spokeswoman said.
A small tsunami of up to 50 centimetres was expected along the affected region, the meteorological agency said.
Communities along the Pacific coast issued warnings and advisories for local residents to seek higher ground but no damage had been reported shortly after the quake.
Television footage of the affected coasts did not show any visible signs of a tsunami or major changes in the waters.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/tsunami-warning-as-strong-earthquake-hits-japan/story-e6freoox-1226091639155