Earthquake Hits North Eastern Japan

Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 07:05 JST
TOKYO — An earthquake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 6.2, jolted northeastern Japan on Saturday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The 3:32 a.m. quake registered 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in northern Miyagi Prefecture and southern Iwate Prefecture, the agency said.

No tsunami warning was issued, and there were no immediate reports on damage or casualties. The quake originated about 50 kilometers underground in the Pacific off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, the agency said.