Japan Earthquake : 7.4 quake strikes, tsunami alert issued

Japan has been rattled by a strong aftershock and tsunami warning nearly a month after a devastating earthquake and tsunami flattened the north-eastern coast.

The Japan meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for a wave of up to one metre. The warning was issued for a coastal area already torn apart by last month's tsunami.

Officials say the new quake was a 7.4-magnitude and hit 25 miles under the water and off the coast of Miyagi prefecture. The quake that preceded last month's tsunami was a 9.0-magnitude.

Buildings as far away as Tokyo shook for about a minute.

The US Geological Survey gave the preliminary magnitude as 7.4 and it struck off the eastern coast 60 miles from Sendai and 90 miles from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant. It was about 215 miles from Tokyo.

The depth was 25 miles. Shallower quakes tend to be more destructive.

Hundreds of aftershocks have shaken the north east region devastated by the March 11 earthquake, but few have been stronger than 7.0.

p/s....lets us pray for Japan...hope they all be alright~~