Japan shaken, but tsunami no threat

Firefighters call for residents to evacuate from coastal areas in
 Rikuzentakata as fear of a tsunami spread. (AP)

TOKYO high-rises swayed for several minutes, one city reported a small tsunami and at least two people were reportedly injured after a strong earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan in the same region that was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami last year.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture.

The epicentre was 10km beneath the seabed and 240km offshore.

After the quake, authorities issued a warning that a tsunami potentially as high as 2m could hit. Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, reported that a tsunami of 1m had hit.

Miyagi prefectural police said there were no immediate reports of damage from the quake or tsunami, although traffic was being stopped in some places to check on roads.