TOKYO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 8.1 hits the disputed Etorofu Island off Hokkaido of northern Japan.

    A tsunami warning which expected waves of between one and two meters to hit Hokkaido's north and east coasts from about 9:10 p.m. was issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency right after the 8:15 p.m. quake, whose center was 390 kilometers off Etorofu.