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Earthquake rocks northern Japan Earthquake rocks northern Japan
(about 1 hour later)
At least four people have been killed and about 60 hurt by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which struck the north of Japan's main island. At least six people are dead and more than 140 injured after a powerful earthquake struck northern Japan, triggering landslides.
The epicentre was in Akita prefecture, 100km (60 miles) north of the city of Sendai, at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. The 7.2-magnitude quake was centred on Iwate - a rural mountainous region on Japan's main island, Honshu.
The tremor rattled buildings in nearby towns and in the capital, Tokyo, 390km (240 miles) to the south. Military helicopters are taking in supplies and flying the injured to hospitals. A landslide at a hot spring reportedly buried seven people.
All high-speed bullet trains in the area were automatically shut down. And a small amount of radioactive water was leaked at a nuclear power station.
Several gallons of radioactive water leaked from two pools storing spent fuel at the Fukushima nuclear plant, but the operator said this posed no risk to the environment. But officials said there was no danger to the public from the minor spillage at the facility in Fukushima.
Two other nuclear power plants in the area were being inspected but there were no immediate signs of damage, officials said. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said: "Our most important task is to save as many lives as possible, and we are doing the best we can."
Several people were reportedly buried under mud at a hot spring hit by a landslide, with up to 100 more reportedly trapped.
Advance warningAdvance warning
Seismologists had issued advance warning of the earthquake moments before it struck around 0845 (2343 GMT on Friday). Rescuers are scrambling to reach seven people buried by a landslide that engulfed a hot spring resort in Komanoyu.
A construction worker died after being hit by falling rock at a dam and a man hit by a lorry after running out of a building during the tremors was also killed.
Landslides claimed the lives of two more construction workers in Kurihara and killed one more in Iwaki.
In pictures: Japan quakeIn pictures: Japan quake
Footage from NHK television showed surveillance cameras in Sendai being shaken violently for about 30 seconds. Another body was reportedly found in a smashed vehicle in the mountains.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reporters in Tokyo that one person had been killed by a landslide triggered by the earthquake in Iwaki City in Fukushima prefecture. All high-speed bullet trains in the area were automatically shut down.
Another death occurred in Iwate prefecture, close to the epicentre, when someone ran out of a building in panic and was hit by a lorry. Seismologists had issued advance warning of the earthquake - which was followed by more than 150 aftershocks - moments before it struck around 0845 (2343 GMT on Friday).
A third victim was a construction worker hit by a rock at a dam in Iwate, according to the National Police Agency. Footage from NHK television showed surveillance cameras in the city of Sendai being shaken violently for about 30 seconds.
A fourth body is reported to have been found in the mountains.
Four people were badly injured near the airport in Sendai when a bus in which they were travelling was jolted by the tremors, Japanese television reported.
Children and at least one teacher were also reportedly hurt when window panes broke at a child care centre in Oshu, it added.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries and experiences thousands of minor tremors each year.Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries and experiences thousands of minor tremors each year.
An earthquake last year in central Japan caused a small radioactive leak from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.An earthquake last year in central Japan caused a small radioactive leak from the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
Are you in Japan? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Japan? Have you been affected by the earthquake? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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