Tsunami warning issued after 7.3-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near Fukushima, Japan, at around 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning.

A tsunami warning was issued near the Fukushima coast by the Japan Meteorological Agency and residents were urged to evacuate. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cleared Hawaii of a tsunami threat.

Japanese national public broadcasting organization NHK reported a tsunami up to 3 meters was imminent.

The USGS initially measured the earthquake at 7.3, but later downgraded it to 6.9. Japan Meteorological Agency is still measuring the quake at a 7.3.

The earthquake was felt in Tokyo and its epicenter was off the coast of the Fukushima prefecture, Reuters reported.

Fukushima is north of Tokyo and was the site of a nuclear disaster following a tsunami that struck the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant after a magnitude 9 earthquake hit the region in 2011. 

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JUST IN: A tsunami was detected 12.4 miles off the coast of Fukushima prefecture and is expected to hit the coast imminently, NHK reports. pic.twitter.com/dJjcjGOANX

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Japan gov’t urging evacuations after 7.3 quake sparks tsunami warning for Fukushima pic.twitter.com/rewdYBiTQU

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JUST IN: 7.3 magnitude earthquake reported at Fukushima Japan. pic.twitter.com/62kn7SSybv

This story is developing.

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