6.5-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Japan, Tsunami Alert Issued

A man walks his dog past collapsed buildings in downtown Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, 27 March 2011. The official death toll from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami has surpassed 10,000. EPA/BGNES

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale jolted Japan's eastern coast Monday morning local time, which led the authorities to issue a tsunami alert.

According to the US Geological Survey, the new strong earthquake hit Japan at 7.23 am local time. Its epicenter was off the east coast of the Honshu Island, at a depth of 5.9 km.

The tsunami alert issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami of up to half a meter could reach the coast of the Miyagi Prefecture.

There have been no reports of damage or injuries from the latest earthquake as Japan is continuing its efforts to recover from the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami that hit the country on March 11 killing at least 10 000 people, and causing a nuclear crisis in the Fukushima NPP.

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