A powerful earthquake struck off the northern Japanese coast early Thursday, injuring at least 91 people, triggering landslides and cutting power to thousands of people.
Japan's Meteorological Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami from the temblor, which had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8. It struck shortly after midnight about 65 miles (105 kilometers) underground and centered off the coast of Iwate, 280 miles (450 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.
The 91 people mainly suffered from cuts and bruises from broken glasses and falling objects and none of the injuries was life threatening, said National Police Agency official on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
The earthquake caused strong shaking of up to 40 seconds in many areas of northern Japan.
"Everything has fallen off the shelves, scattered all over the floor," grocery store owner Tomio Kudo told national broadcaster NHK from the town of Hirono, where the shaking was most violent.
"Even a big refrigerator has moved about 30 centimeters (1 foot)."
There were no immediate reports of any problems at the nearest nuclear power plant, which continued operations, according to local media reports.
But Japan's "bullet" super-express trains were suspended in some areas, according to operator East Japan Railway Co. The earthquake also triggered landslides at several locations, the police agency official said.
Disaster Minister Shinya Izumi told reporters the earthquake caused a blackout in wide areas in the region, leaving about 6,700 homes without electricity. Izumi said a team of officials from the ministry was assessing the extent of damage.
Police said some of the more serious injuries included a woman in Hirono who broke a leg falling down stairs and another woman in Aomori city who broke her hip as she fled out a window.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake is capable of causing serious, widespread damage.
Last month, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck sparsely populated rural areas in northern Japan, killing at least 12 people, leaving 10 others missing and injuring more than 300. - Associated Press
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