Magnitude 7.3 quake rattles Japan coast

TOKYO -- A strong earthquake yesterday struck the same Japanese coast devastated by last year's massive quake and tsunami, generating small waves but no immediate reports of heavy damage.

Several people along the northeastern coast were reportedly injured, and buildings in Tokyo and elsewhere swayed for several minutes.

The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 5:18 p.m., the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The focus was 6.2 miles beneath the seabed and 150 miles offshore.

The area was shaken by repeated, smaller aftershocks, the agency said.

After the quake, authorities issued a warning that a tsunami potentially as high as 2.2 yards could hit. Sirens whooped along the coast as people ran for higher ground.

Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, reported a tsunami 1 yard high, and other towns reported smaller tsunamis.

About two hours after the quake struck, the tsunami warning was canceled. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center earlier said there was no risk of a widespread tsunami. The Meteorological Agency has an early warning system that, using data from seismographs scattered across Japan, enables it to provide warning of the estimated intensity and timing of a major quake. The warning for yesterday's quake was issued six minutes before it struck, according to the agency. -- AP