6.9 magnitude earthquake hits northeastern Japan, no tsunami warning

TOKYO - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck northeastern Japan on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, the weather agency said, Kyodo News reported.

The 07.30am quake occurred off the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of 50 kilometres. It measured upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Hashikami and lower 6 in Hachinohe, both in Aomori Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

An intensity of upper 6 means it is impossible to remain standing or move without crawling, and most unfixed furniture will move, and objects will topple over, according to the agency.

The earthquake logged upper 5 in Sannohe in Aomori Prefecture and in Morioka and other parts of Iwate Prefecture. The temblor also affected Miyagi, Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures as well as Tokyo and its neighbouring prefectures.

Tohoku Shinkansen bullet services were halted between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations after the quake, JR East said. - BERNAMA