6.8 Quake Strikes off Japanese Coast

An earthquake with a reported magnitude of 6.8 hit off the northern Japansese coast in the early hours Thursday, but officials did not report any immediate injuries or damage.

The quake, which lasted some 30 to 40 seconds, struck approximatley 75 miles below the ocean's surface off the coast of Iwate.

In June, a 7.2-magnitude quake hit sparsely populated rural areas in northern Japan, killing at least 12 people