Thursday morning, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, shaking buildings across the northeast and reaching Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported no tsunami threat.
The quake, at a depth of about 50 kilometers, caused minor injuries to eight people in Aomori and Iwate prefectures, mostly from falls and falling objects. The East Japan Railway Co. suspended some bullet trains and local lines for safety checks. Nuclear facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant, reported no abnormalities.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to stay cautious of aftershocks, as emergency teams prepared for relief operations.