Arab News Japan

A strong earthquake struck off northern Japan early Saturday, shaking buildings in Tokyo but there was no risk of a tsunami. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake measured 6.6 and hit at a depth of 60 kilometers (36 miles). People in Tokyo told Arab News Japan that the shaking lasted for about a half minute. 

The quake was centered off the coast of Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan, the area devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 that left about 20,000 people dead.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast on Saturday but no tsunami warning was issued. (Japan Meteorological Agency)

Tremors with seismic intensities of 4 to 1 were observed in Tohoku, Hokkaido, Kanto Koshinetsu, Tokai and various parts of Kinki, the agency reported. 

In Tokyo and other prefectures life continued normally but authorities have called on people to be cautious of aftershocks.

Wide areas of northerner Japan including prefectures at the west coast facing Sea of Japan were shaken at less magnitude of about 3. However, the Tohoko region north of Tokyo was shaken at a strong magnitude of 5. Videos broadcasted on television channels showed shelves at a shopping mall in Fukushima shaking strongly while making a loud noise.

There were also no damages reported at the nuclear power stations in the region and the Fukushima crippled nuclear station seemed to have not been impacted by this earthquake.

The Prime Minister Office in Japan has set up a crisis management to follow up the impact.

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

The country is regularly hit by quakes, and has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong tremors.

*With AP