Two killed in Japan quake

Updated 07.18 Sat Jun 14 2008
Keywords: Iwate, landslide, earthquake, aftershocks, Japan

An earthquake has rocked northern Japan, killing at least two people, according to officials and local media.

The quake, which measured 7.2, centred in Akita prefecture, 100km north of Sendai, at a depth of 10km.

The quake, which measured 7.2, centred in Akita prefecture, 100km north of Sendai, at a depth of 10km.

At least four people were reportedly buried in a landslide at a hot spring resort in Kurihara city in hard-hit Miyagi prefecture, although it was unknown whether they were dead.

Three more were reportedly missing at a work site after another landslide in Kurihara, with more than 100 people were hurt.

A rail operator said 2,000 people were trapped on bullet trains that stopped between stations.

The tremor was said to be far less destructive than the 7.9 quake that hit southwestern China on May 12, leaving nearly 87,000 people dead or missing.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, prompting tough building codes to try to limit damage.

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