M6.9 quake off Iwate shakes northern Japan, halts Shinkansen
JMA later revised the magnitude to 7.2; no deaths were reported, and no tsunami warning was issued.
A strong earthquake shook northern Japan on Thursday morning, centered off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at 07.30 local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency, JMA, first recorded a magnitude 6.9 quake at a depth of about 50 kilometers, then revised it to 7.2 with a depth of 44 kilometers. The shaking was felt as far as Tokyo, with intensity reaching the upper 6 level in Hashikami, Aomori Prefecture. So far there have been no reports of deaths or major damage, and authorities did not issue a tsunami warning. However, Tohoku Shinkansen service was briefly suspended between Sendai and Shin-Aomori, several schools were temporarily closed, and there were reports of jammed doors, stalled elevators and an overturned tanker truck.