Strong offshore earthquake east of Fukushima shakes Japan's northeastern coast

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      A major offshore quake has just struck east off the northeastern coast of Japan's main island of Honshu this morning.

      It occured at 11:07 p.m. Tokyo time (6:07 a.m. Vancouver time) on February 13.

      The Japan Meterological Agency reported it as 7.1-magnitude while the U.S. Geological Survey measured it as a 7.0-magnitude.

      The epicentre, at a depth of 54 kilometres (34 miles), was located 91 kilometres (56 miles) northeast of Namie, Japan; 108 kilometres (67 miles) southeast of Watari, Japan; and 118 kilometres (73 miles) southeast of Sendai, Japan.

      The quake was reported felt in Fukushima, Miyagi, and other prefectures, as well as Tokyo.

      According to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System, there was no tsunami threat from this seismic activity, based on all data available. 

      The Japan Times reported that public broadcaster NHK stated that there aren't any abnormalities at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

      Shortly afterward, a 5.3-magnitude quake followed in the same area at 11:51 p.m. Tokyo time (6:51 a.m. Vancouver time).

      This quake occurs one decade after the Great East Japan Earthquake in the same region—a 9.0-magnitude undersea quake that was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan. The intensity triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal areas and caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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