Japanese quake sets off small tsunamis

No Pacific-wide threat resulted, according to the Ewa Beach center

TOKYO » A powerful earthquake shook northern Japan early today, triggering small tsunami waves that struck towns along the northeastern coast about 215 miles away.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said the magnitude-7.1 quake hit at 6:39 a.m. (2139 GMT) off the east coast of Japan's main island of Honshu, and issued a tsunami warning.

About 400 households along the coast were temporarily ordered to evacuate, public broadcaster NHK reported. Local authorities also ordered fishing boats to move to open water to avoid being washed up on the shore.

Small tsunami waves measuring up to 20 inches hit Ofunato city on the coast of Iwate prefecture nearly an hour after the quake, the agency said.

Smaller tsunami waves hit at least four other coastal towns in Iwate, Aomori and Miyagi provinces, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The agency called off the tsunami warning about two hours after the quake.

Tsunami waves -- generated by earthquakes -- are often barely noticeable in the ocean but can rise to great heights once they arrive at shore.

Yesterday's quake shook buildings across a wide area of northern and eastern Honshu, including Tokyo, and Hokkaido.

There was no destructive Pacific Ocean-wide tsunami threat following yesterday's earthquake, based on historical quake and tsunami data, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.