Magnitude-6.1 earthquake shakes northeastern Japan

TOKYO (AP) — A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, but no tsunami is expected.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit early Thursday and was centered about 107 kilometers (66 miles) northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of 40 kilometers (25 miles).

Japan's Kyodo News agency says the quake shook Aomori prefecture (state) and other areas of northeastern Japan but no abnormalities were reported at nearby nuclear power plants. No tsunami warning was issued.

A massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan's northeastern coastline in March last year, leaving some 19,000 people dead or missing and badly damaging the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.