Breaking BBC: Japan earthquake tsunami warning issued

Update:: No Pacific-wide tsunami alert after Japan quake: US agency

(NDTV) A powerful 7.3 earthquake that struck off Japan's northeastern coast on Friday did not generate a Pacific-wide tsunami, a US early warning agency said.

There was no threat of a tsunami in the wider Pacific Ocean, according to the US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, but it warned an earthquake of that magnitude could generate a tsunami that can be destructive for local coastlines.

Update:

(Reuters) A strong earthquake centred off the coast of northeastern Japan shook buildings as far as Tokyo and led to a tsunami warning for coastal areas of the northeast, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday.

The earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, the U.S. Geological Survey said, adding that there was no risk of a widespread tsunami. That was revised from an earlier estimate of 7.4.

A warning for a one-metre tsunami was issued for the coast of Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan, which was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

That quake triggered fuel-rod meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing radiation leakage, contamination of food and water and mass evacuations in the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

The government declared in December that the disaster was under control, but much of the area is still free of population.

Tokyo Electric Power Co, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, reported no irregularities at its nuclear plants after the latest quake.

(BBC) A tsunami warning has been issued after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's eastern coast.

The epicentre of the quake was about 245km (153 miles) south-east of Kamiashi at a depth of about 36km, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake was felt in the capital Tokyo, media report.  The tsunami warning was issued for the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, which was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat to the wider Pacific Ocean but that a tsunami could be generated that was destructive for local coastlines.

Warnings of the tsunami height varied from between 50cm and two metres. Evacuations have been ordered from some of the affected areas.Buildings were reported to have swayed in Tokyo for several minutes.