2 killed, dozens injured in Japan earthquake

A preliminary magnitude 7.0 earthquake jolted northern Japan on Saturday. At least two people were killed, and scores of others were injured. The quake also triggered several landslides, disrupting traffic on roads.

The earthquake struck at 8:43 A.M. local time. The epicenter was in southern Iwate Prefecture in a mountainous rural area about 300 kilometers north of Tokyo. 2,000 people were stranded when bullet trains in the region were halted.

Reports say it may take nine hours to complete safety checks and resume services. Nuclear power plant operations were unaffected. But aftershocks are continuing.

A government official says at least 22,000 people have lost electricity. No tsunami warning was issued after the quake.