Magnitude-6.7 quake rattles northern Japan

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Magnitude-6.7 quake rattles northern Japan

By the CNN Wire Staff

June 23, 2011 -- Updated 0156 GMT (0956 HKT)

Tokyo (CNN) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 struck off the

Pacific Coast of northern Japan early Thursday, Japanese and U.S. seismologists

reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami could be generated by the

temblor, but canceled the warning less than an hour after the quake.

The coastal cities of Kamaishi and Ofunato ordered about 8,000 households near

the coast to evacuate, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, but there

was no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Train service in the area was stopped temporarily, but resumed operation within

an hour, NHK reported.

The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. (6 p.m. Wednesday ET) and was centered

530 kilometers (330 miles) north-northeast of Tokyo.

The epicenter was off the northern prefecture of Iwate, about 175 kilometers

(109 miles) north of where the magnitude-9 quake that devastated northern Japan

struck in March.

CNN's Kyung Lah and Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report.