TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake that rocked northern Japan on Saturday has killed two people, the government's top spokesman said.
One of those killed was caught in a landslide, ChiefCabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reporters, addingthat the government had set up an emergency response centre.
The shallow quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0jolted a largely rural Iwate region 300 km (190 miles) north ofTokyo at 8:43 a.m. (2343 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agencysaid.
