5.1-magnitude quake strikes off northeastern Japan

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan, the weather agency said on Thursday.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) the temblor, which registered 3 on Japan's 7-level seismic intensity scale, struck off the coast of Iwate at a depth of 30 km.

The weather agency did not issue a tsunami warning as a result of the quake.

There were no immediate reports of accidents or injuries, according to officials in the area.

Japan's nuclear watchdog said there were no abnormalities at any nuclear power stations in the area as a result of the quake, which struck at 5:06 p.m. local time (0806 GMT).

source: Xinhua