Tokyo: A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast on Thursday morning, shaking parts of the country's northeast during rush hour and prompting safety checks on rail services, though authorities said there was no tsunami threat.

The quake occurred off the eastern coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometres, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), which upgraded its initial magnitude estimate of 6.9. The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.9.

The tremor was felt across northeastern Japan and mildly shook Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage, government officials said.

Emergency Response and Safety Checks

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said emergency teams were monitoring the situation and preparing for relief operations if necessary.

Her government was "putting people's lives first" while assessing information and coordinating response efforts, she told reporters. Takaichi also urged residents in affected areas to remain alert for possible aftershocks.

The East Japan Railway Company temporarily suspended some bullet train and local rail services in northeastern Japan to conduct safety inspections.

Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said nuclear facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and a spent fuel reprocessing facility in Aomori Prefecture, reported no abnormalities following the earthquake.

Schools Affected, Residents Feel Strong Shaking

In Aomori Prefecture, primary school principal Tomoko Nagane said she was driving when the earthquake alert sounded.

She told NHK that she experienced moderate sideways shaking. Children who had already arrived at school were safe, although some were frightened and crying. Classes were cancelled for the day and all students were sent home safely, she said.

NHK correspondents in several affected cities, including Sendai and Morioka, reported feeling strong shaking that lasted for several minutes but said they had not observed any visible damage. Television footage showed commuters largely continuing with their normal routines.

The earthquake struck in a region that has experienced several significant tremors in recent months, including one that prompted a week-long megaquake caution advisory in December.

Japan, located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is among the world's most earthquake-prone countries.