A major earthquake registering 7.1 on the Richter Scale struck off Honshu early today . Officials ordered the evacuation of the villages of Taro, Sanriku and Ozutsu, about 300 miles northeast of Tokyo on Honshu's eastern coast. It was centered several miles off the coast and at a depth of 20 feet . No casualties have been reported , but officials fear a seismic tidal surge . Over the past few weeks a series of lesser quakes have occurred in the same general area . Today 's quake is the strongest in the area sine March 1931 , more than 58 years ago . A major fault runs under Japan , and it is the cause for frequent quakes , but most of them cause little damage .
A major earthquake registering 7.1 on the Richter Scale struck off Honshu early today . It was centered several miles off the coast and at a depth of 20 feet . No casualties have been reported , but officials fear a seismic tidal surge . Over the past few weeks a series of lesser quakes have occurred in the same general area . Today 's quake is the strongest in the area sine March 1931 , more than 58 years ago . A major fault runs under Japan , and it is the cause for frequent quakes , but most of them cause little damage .