6 killed, 200 injured in Japan quake

At least six persons were killed and more than 200 injured when a powerful earthquake jolted northern Japan on Saturday triggering landslides, disrupting rail and road transport and affecting at least one nuclear plant.

The quake measuring 7.2 on Richter scale rocked the Miyagi Prefecture, around 350 km north of here, and Iwate Prefecture at 8.43 am local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

About 290 people including tourists were stranded in various areas while nearly 30,000 households were left without power, officials said.

Police said five people had died, at least 10 remain missing and more than 200 others were injured, state broadcaster NHK reported.