Powerful quake hits Japan

TOKYO, Apr 7: A powerful earthquake hit northeastern Japan late Thursday, seismologists said, prompting Japanese authorities to issue a localised tsunami alert. The quake, which hit at 11:32 pm local time (1432 GMT), was initially measured at 7.4-magnitude, according to the US Geological Survey, which said it struck 66 kilometres (40 miles) east of Sendai at a shallow depth of 25.6 kilometres (15.9 miles). USGS seismologists later downgraded its strength to 7.1, and revised its depth to 49 kms. The tsunami alert was also cancelled. - Agencies