At least 15 hurt as strong earthquake rocks Niigata

AKIPRESS.COM - At least 15 people were injured after a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Japan's northeastern region late Tuesday, authorities said Wednesday, Japan Times reports.
The Meteorological Agency warned of potential landslides and the collapse of houses, and said there was a chance of more quakes of similar levels hitting Yamagata and Niigata prefectures over the following week. It also forecast rain in part of the region on Wednesday.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said early Wednesday that no fires, major damage nor serious injuries have been reported.
The quake, which occurred at around 10:22 p.m. off the coast of Yamagata Prefecture, prompted the Meteorological Agency to issue tsunami advisories for coastal areas of Yamagata and Niigata prefectures and the Noto area in Ishikawa Prefecture. The agency estimated the possible tsunami's height to be as much as 1 meter.
A 10 cm tsunami was reported at Niigata port just after midnight, but the Meteorological Agency lifted the tsunami advisories for all three prefectures at 1:02 a.m.