Magnitude 7.1 Quake Hits Off NE Japan Coast

TOKYO (AP) — A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 has hit off the northeast Japan coast, prompting a tsunami warning.

The quake hit at 9:57 local time (0057 GMT) and a warning of a possible tsunami was issued for most of the northeastern coastline. The epicenter of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu.

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

The quake monitoring agency said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kms (6 miles) off the coast and NHK public broadcasters report no immediate injuries or damage.