Tokyo, A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit off northeastern Japan late last night, left at least two people dead, more than 160 injured and causing a high-speed Shinkansen train to derail, Japanese Kyodo news reported.
Two men in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, the areas hit hardest by the quake, died, while the injuries reported as of today occurred across a total of 12 prefectures, according to local authorities and the Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session that authorities are looking into a total of four deaths apparently caused by the quake.
The quake also prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a 1-meter tsunami warning for the Pacific coast of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, but the warning was circulated today after only relatively small tsunami waves were observed.
Source: Oman News Agency