HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

December 7, 2012. Major earthquake strikes off northeast coast of Japan, minor tsunamis reported

SOURCE: Kroll

A strong earthquake struck on December 7th off the coast of northeastern Japan in the same region that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, reports indicated. Tokyo high-rises swayed for several minutes and one city reported a small tsunami. At least two people were reported injured, however there were no immediate reports of heavy damage. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 5:18 pm local time. The epicenter was 10 km beneath the seabed and 240 km offshore. After the quake, authorities issued a warning that a tsunami potentially as high as 2 meters could hit. Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, reported that a tsunami of 1 meter hit the coast. There were no problems at any of the nuclear plants operated in the area. About two hours after the quake struck, the tsunami warning was cancelled. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of a widespread tsunami.

The magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that slammed into northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, killed or left missing some 19,000 people, devastating much of the coast. All but two of Japan's nuclear plants were shut down for checks after the earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant in the worst nuclear disaster since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.