Quake jolts northeast Japan, no reports of damage

By ERIC TALMADGE
July 10, 2011, 12:50pm

TOKYO, Japan (AP) – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit Japan’s northeastern coast Sunday prompting a brief tsunami warning for the area still recovering from a devastating temblor and killer tsunami four months ago.

Residents in coastal areas were warned to evacuate for about two

hours after the quake, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake was recorded at 9:57 local time (0057 GMT), and a tsunami warning was issued for most of the northeastern coastline.

The epicenter of the quake was traced in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, at a depth of about 20 miles (30 kilometers).

No damage has been reported.

Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez, meanwhile, reported that no Filipinos were hurt in the latest earthquake that hit the Japan.

In a television interview, Lopez assured that the Philippine Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs stand ready to assist Filipinos in Japan.

The US Geological Survey estimated a magnitude 7 earthquake at a depth of 18 kilometers off the northeastern coast of Japan around 10 a.m.

A tsunami alert was immediately issued. But by noon, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted the alert after the forecast arrival time of the waves passed in most areas without any tsunami being recorded.

Japanese officials predicted that the quake could generate tsunami of up to 20 inches (50 centimeters), but the initial waves were only about four inches (10 centimeters).

Japan’s Meteorological agency at first estimated the strength of the quake at 7.1, but later revised that to 7.3. It also revised the depth estimate from 10 to 30 kilometers.

Japan’s northeastern coastline was devastated by a powerful earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that left nearly 23,000 dead or missing and touched off a nuclear crisis at a badly damaged power facility in Fukushima.

Officials said there were no reports of abnormalities at the Fukushima plant caused by Sunday’s quake, though workers were instructed to move to higher grounds. Airports in the area remained functioning normally.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, where dozens of strong aftershocks have been felt since the March 11 disaster, which measured at magnitude 9.0 and was the strongest in Japanese history.

Sunday’s quake registered four on the Japanese scale of seven – meaning it was felt as moderately strong.

Because of the damage from the March quake and tsunami, however, many buildings in the area are structurally weak and seawalls have been destroyed, making the region more vulnerable to relatively weaker quakes. (With a report from Roy c. Mabasa)

source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/326190/quake-jolts-northeast-japan-no-reports-damage