A tsunami alert was issued after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the region of Honshu off the east coast of Japan, causing widespread panic and forcing people to flee their homes and move to safer areas.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook northeastern Japan at 6:09 pm local time on Saturday, according to foreign media reports. A tsunami alert was issued by authorities immediately after the quake. No casualties were reported but power supply was cut off in the affected area. According to local media, in view of the threat of tsunami, a population of two and a half thousand houses located near a coastal area of Watari has been directed to evacuate.
