A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s northeastern coast Thursday night, the same area already devastated by last month’s 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami and not far from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The strong aftershock hit 40 kilometres underwater and off the coast of Miyagi prefecture and was felt as far away as Tokyo.
It prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning for waves of up to two metres, or six feet, but the alert has since been cancelled.
No new damage or injuries were reported at the Dai-ichi plant, and Japan’s NHK public television said the complex had been evacuated.
Hundreds of aftershocks have hit Japan since the initial March 11 disaster, but few have been stronger than 7.0 in magnitude.