M6.9 quake hits NE, tsunami and evacuation warnings issued

TOKYO - A quake of a preliminary magnitude hit offshore Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan at 8:06 am (local time), resulting in a tsunami warning for the country's northeastern coastal areas, Japan's Meteorological Agency said Tuesday.

Small waves were reported along the northern coast but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries. The Japan Meteorological Agency said later on Tuesday tsunami warning has been lifted for the country's northeast coast.

The epicenter was initially determined at 39.9 degrees north latitude, 144.5 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10km.

Japanese broadcaster NHK warned residents a one metre-high (three feet) wave was expected to hit the coast of Iwate prefecture in northern Japan at approximately 2330 GMT. It reported that evacuations had been ordered for towns closest to the coast in Iwate.

The quake was measured at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no danger of a Pacific-wide tsunami.

Tohoku Electric Power Co, which operates the Onagawa and Higashidori nuclear plants in nearby Miyagi and Aomori prefectures, said it saw no irregularities at the facilities after the quake.

All 48 of Japan's nuclear reactors remain offline after a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster in northeastern Japan.

A spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co, the operator of Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear plants, said there were no irregularities at the plants. The quake was felt only weakly in the area, he said.

Unlisted Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd also said there were no irregularities recorded at its nuclear fuel reprocessing facility or other plants in Aomori.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. Japan accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said on Tuesday a tsunami warning has been lifted for the country's northeast coast.

The agency had issued the warning earlier after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off northeastern Japan.