A powerful earthquake of 6.7 magnitude struck northeast Japan on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports.

The U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami warning was issued but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory for northern Japan's Pacific coast. The quake struck 70 miles northeast of the town of Hachinohe, at a shallow depth of 6 miles, the USGS said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Sendai City in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi issued an evacuation order, public broadcaster NHK reported, and officials urged people living near the coast and rivers close to the sea to head toward inland areas.

Tohoku Electric Power Company said no abnormalities have been detected at the Higashidori nuclear power plant i

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