6.8 Earthquake Jolts Northern Japan, Triggers Tsunami Warning

A shallow 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted northern Japan early Tuesday, triggering a tsunami warning and advisories cautioning people to stay away from the coast.

The quake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, where authorities have issued a tsunami warning and expected 3-feet-high waves. The quake's epicenter was 50 miles north of Miyako and 330 miles north of Tokyo, at a depth of six miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi Prefecture said there haven't been any disruptions or damage from the quake and bullet trains were running on regular schedules, Japan's NHK television reported.

Live NHK images from Iwate and Miyako Prefectures showed small fishing boats returning to port and captured the sounds of tsunami warning sirens.

A 9.0 quake that rocked Japan on March 11, 2011, killed at least 15,800 people and caused the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/6-...arning-n307196