Tsunami Warning Due to M 6.8 Earthquake, Northeastern Japan Off Fukushima Region 2011 August 19

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 trembled northeastern Japan off Fukushima prefecture on Friday at 2:36 p.m. (0536 GMT) . The recent one was centred slightly south of where a massive magnitude-9.0 temblor struck in March which was the strongest on record in Japan resulting massive tsunami that triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. But in this event no abnormalities had been found at radiation monitoring posts at the this nuclear power plant.

Some highways were closed and high-speed bullet trains were halted after the quake.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the seismic details are:

Magnitude: 6.3

Date-Time : Friday, August 19, 2011 at 05:36:32 UTC

Friday, August 19, 2011 at 02:36:32 PM at epicenter

Location : 37.673°N, 141.716°E

Depth : 43.6 km (27.1 miles)

Region : NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Distances:  

99 km (61 miles) SE of Sendai, Honshu, Japan
103 km (64 miles) NE of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan

113 km (70 miles) E of Fukushima, Honshu, Japan

283 km (175 miles) NE of TOKYO, Japan 

USGS measured the quake at 6.3 while other reports recorded a magnitude of 6.8.The agency issued a tsunami advisory, predicting waves of 50 centimetres along the coast of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. But about a half-hour later, the advisory was lifted. They urged residents in coastal areas to head for higher ground, but about a half-hour after the quake, there were no reports of a tsunami reaching Japan.The Japan Meteorological Agency said no damage was reported.