TOKYO (AP) _ More than 100 people are injured after a powerful earthquake rattled northern Japan early today.

The 6.8-magnitude quake triggered landslides and knocked out power to thousands of people but posed no danger of a tsunami. It was centered about 65 miles underground just off the coast, some 280 miles northeast of Tokyo.

One official says it caused about 40 seconds of strong shaking in much of northern Japan. A grocery store owner says everything fell off the shelves and a big refrigerator moved about a foot.

Several nuclear power plants in the region are up and running after inspections found no damage.

In a few areas, Japan's super-fast ``bullet'' trains were
halted. People are being warned about the possibility of aftershocks.