A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, but no tsunami is expected. The US Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.1 earthquake hit early Thursday and was centered about 107 km northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of 40 km. Japan’s Kyodo news agency said no abnormalities were reported at nearby nuclear power plants. No tsunami warning was issued. A massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan’s northeastern coastline in March last year, leaving some 19,000 people dead or missing and badly damaging the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant.—AP