Magnitude 7.2 quake hits Japan, tsunami expected

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<strong>An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck north-eastern Japan on Saturday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for Miyagi prefecture.</strong></p>
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The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of up to a 1-metre high tsunami in Miyagi and the first tsunami wave has already swept ashore in the city of Ishinomaki, dpa news agency quoted the national broadcaster NHK as saying.<br />
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The warning prompted some residents in Miyagi to rush to higher ground ahead of the possible arrival of tsunami, NHK footage showed.<br />
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There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.<br />
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The quake also shook buildings in Tokyo.<br />
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The temblor occurred at 6.09 p.m. (local time), with its epicentre located at a latitude of 38.4 degrees north and a longitude of 141.7 degrees east, and at the depth of 60 km, the agency said.<br />
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On March 11, Japan marked the 10th anniversary of a magnitude-9.0 quake and resulting tsunami that struck the same region in 2011, leaving about 18,400 dead or missing.<br />
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The twin natural disasters caused a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which spewed radioactive substances into the environment.<br />
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The nuclear emergency prompted hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes.<br />
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A month ago, a magnitude-7.3 quake also rocked the north-east, killing one person and injuring about 190 others.<br />
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Japan sits at the convergence of four tectonic plates, making it especially prone to seismic activity.<br />
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The country is also home to 100 active volcanoes.</p>
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<em>(IANS)</em></p>