Small tsunami hits Japan after quake

(AP)
Updated: 2007-03-25 10:05

TOKYO - A strong earthquake struck Japan early Sunday, violently shaking buildings and triggering a small 6-inch tsunami which hit the coast, officials and media reports said. No major damage or injuries were immediately reported.

The quake hit shortly before 10 a.m. off the north coast of Ishikawa prefecture (state), Japan's Meteorological Agency said. It had a preliminary magnitude of 7.1. A small tsunami of 6 inches hit shore around 10:18 am, public broadcaster NHK said.

Television footage from the quake zone showed buildings swaying violently.

Immediately after the quake struck, authorities issued a tsunami warning for the country's northwestern Sea of Japan coast and broadcasters urged people near the sea to seek higher ground. The Meteorological Agency said seismically triggered waves of up to 25 inches were possible.

Calls to police and local officials in the region were not immediately answered.

The United States Geological Service said the epicenter of the earthquake was 225 miles northwest of Tokyo. The USGS gave a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

Japan sits atop four tectonic plates and is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.