Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan

TOKYO (AP) — A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Japan early today, swaying buildings and forcing authorities to close highways and stop high-speed trains. Japan’s government said two people were killed.

Authorities said two nuclear power plants in the area were not damaged and continued to operate normally, national broadcaster NHK reported. There was no danger of a tsunami.

The quake was centered in the northern prefecture of Iwate about 280 miles north of Tokyo.

The meteorological agency issued a warning of a second quake, and a 5.6-magnitude aftershock hit the same area.