Japan Earthquake Strikes, Tsunami Alert Lifted

Still reeling from its March 11 disaster, northeastern Japan was rattled by a strong aftershock today, but tsunami fears have ebbed. See photos, video, and Twitter updates. Plus, full coverage of Japan.

A new earthquake has struck Japan, even as it continues to deal with the fallout of the last big one. Officials say a 7.1-magnitude tremor rocked the stricken nation’s northeastern coast—the same region hit by the March 11 disaster, which has left 15,000 people still missing. The epicenter of the quake—a powerful aftershock of the March 11 tremor—was about 41 miles off the coast of Sendai, which absorbed much of the destruction of the first strike.

Where the Quake Hit:

For the most part, Japan appears to have dodged a bullet . An initial tsunami warning has been lifted, and efforts to stabilize the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant have continued mostly uninterrupted. Workers at the facility are using coolant water and nitrogen injections to prevent a meltdown or a hydrogen explosion, and TEPCO, the plant’s owner, said they had not been disrupted. Radiation levels near the plant also appear normal. The quake struck about 16 miles from the coast of Miyagi prefecture, but was smaller than the 9.0-magnitude tremor that caused the massive tsunami. Still, buildings as far away as Tokyo shook.

CNN: Breaking Video From Miyagi Prefecture

Photos of the Aftermath From Twitter:

Tweets From Tokyo and Sendai:

@ BlaisePlant (Location: Sendai) Everything here is completely trashed again…Sirens all over...the city is black...phones are out...it was about 20 secs long... It hit us right under...Miyagi Kwn Sendai…Compared to the 9, this earthquake came out of nowhere and hit real strong as if metal was pounding against metal…A lot of people got hurt…fires here by my place

City hall is out...the city power seems to slowly be turning off everywhere....still shaking. less than a minute ago via Twitterrific Favorite Retweet ReplyBlaise PlantBlaisePlant

@ dicklp (Location: Tokyo)

In central Tokyo we experienced it as a long, slow, powerful side-to-side rocking. Probabky close to a minute, perhaps longer #Japan #quakeless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyRichard Lloyd Parrydicklp

@ daiwaka (Location: Tokyo)

Just had what felt like another massive quake in the tohoku region. I got tossed around my hotel room a little and my tv tipped over. I'm less than a minute ago via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet ReplyDaisuke Wakabayashidaiwaka

@ TomokoHosaka (Location: Ichinoseki, about 50 miles north of Sendai)

AP crew in Ichinoseki is ok. But that was seriously scary. I really thought our hotel was going to collapse. #earthquakeless than a minute ago via Twittelator Favorite Retweet ReplyTomoko A. HosakaTomokoHosaka

@ DannyChoo (Location: Tokyo)

Mobile phones in Iwate unusable and they got blackouts. The quake went on for a minute up there. less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyDanny Choodannychoo