strong earthquake today struck the Japanese coast devastated by last year's massive quake and tsunami, generated small waves . No immediate reports of heavy damage. Several people along the northeastern coast were reportedly injured and buildings in Tokyo and elsewhere swayed for several minutes.

The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Miyagi prefecture at 5:18pm, the Japan meteorological agency said. The epicenter was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) beneath the seabed and 240 kilometers (150 miles) offshore.

The area was shaken by repeated, smaller aftershocks, the agency said.
Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi, reported a tsunami of one meter height high . About two hours after the quake struck, the tsunami warning was cancelled. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center earlier said there was no risk of a widespread tsunami.

The Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju has urged the corporate sector to contribute the Government’s Disaster Management efforts. Addressing a seminar on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in New Delhi on Wednesday, Dr. Raju advocated setting up of a system where private sector efforts could be integrated with national efforts.
On the occasion, Dr. Raju said that regional co-operation is important in disaster management. He said that India has taken a leading role among South Asian countries for reducing disasters.

Lauding the role of the Armed forces in rescue and relief operations during disasters, he said, the forces are the most dedicated, professional and well equipped with manpower and material resources. He cited the Tsunami disaster, cloud burst in Leh, Bihar floods and the Sikkim earthquake as excellent examples of the Armed forces' capabilities to reach out to the remotest parts of the country for such operations