Powerful Earthquake Strikes Off Japan's Northern Coast, No Tsunami Warning Issued

A powerful earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan during rush hour on Thursday morning, but the country’s meteorological agency said there was no danger of a tsunami and no serious injuries were reported. The temblor shook dozens of towns across northeastern Japan and was even mildly felt in the capital, Tokyo. It hit in an area where strong earthquakes have repeatedly been reported in recent months, including one that triggered a week-long mega-quake caution advisory in Dec. Eight people were injured in northern prefectures of Aomori and Iwate, the fire and disaster management agency said. Media had no report of life-threatening injuries and the injuries that were reported were mainly from falling or being hit by falling objects. Quake hits rural California A rural area of Northern California experienced its strongest earthquake since 1940 on Wednesday, causing some injuries but no immediate reports of major damage, officials said. The epicentre of the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, was about 12 kilometres northwest of the agricultural town of Willits, according to the US Geological Survey. It was widely felt, including in the coastal city of Fort Bragg.