Japan hit again by earthquake

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's northeast coast which triggered a tsunami advisory on Friday, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the tremor that struck 80 kilometers southeast of Miyagi prefecture.

The agency said that waves of up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) may strike areas along the disaster-struck coast, counting the area where the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is situated.

Buildings in Tokyo swayed at 0536 GMT (2:36 p.m. at the epicenter).

Meanwhile, Ai Tanaka, a spokeswoman of Tokyo Electric Power Company said that there is no abnormality in their cooling operations at the plant. Radiation gauges did not show any abnormal change either.

On the other hand, the United States Geological Survey said that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3. — ARA