Wolf Blitzer, of CNN just announced an earthquate of magnitude 6.7 on the Richter scale just occurred off the northern coast of Japan. A Tsunami alert has not been issued, as I incorrectly reported just a minute ago.
This is the same vicinity as the distressed Fukushima nuclear power plants. I will update additional information as it becomes available.
Reuters reports 6.8 magnitude earthquake east of Japan
Published 3 minutes ago
Reuters
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Geological Survey Wednesday reported at 6.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Honshu, Japan, 136 kilometers southeast of Hachinohe.
The quake was followed by a 6.7 magnitude quake a few seconds later in the same region of the Pacific Ocean.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no warning or watch currently in effect for the area.
3:40 PM PT: This google map shows the location of the earthquake off the east-coast of Japan, north of the Fukushima plants.
http://maps.google.com/...(M6.7+-+NEAR+THE+EAST+COAST+OF+HONSHU,+JAPAN+-+2011+June+22++21:50:48+UTC)&ll=39.9799,142.2472&spn=2,2&f=d&t=h&hl=e
3:43 PM PT: I have clarification on the discrepency between CNN, and Reuters, on the Tsunami alert. The US Geological Service said there was no alert.
The Japanese MET authority issues a warning as a precaution, but this tweet, says, no tsunami has been seen, and would have by now.
cycloneupdate The Tsunami alert arrival time has passed, no reports of waves from what I'm seeing. Alert remains in place by Japan Met Authority.
3:49 PM PT: The CNN Wir Staff report e
Magnitude 6.7 quake rattles northern Japan
By the CNN Wire Staff
June 22, 2011 -- Updated 2234 GMT (0634 HKT)
The quake generated a half-meter tsunami warning
There was no immediate report of damage or injuries
Tokyo (CNN) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 struck off the Pacific coast of northern Japan early Thursday, Japanese and U.S. seismologists reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami about one-half meter (19.5 inches) could be generated by the temblor, but there was no immediate report of damage or injuries.
The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. (6 p.m. Wednesday ET) and was centered 530 kilometers (330 miles) north-northeast of Tokyo. The epicenter was off the northern prefecture of Iwate, about 175 kilometers (109 miles) north of where the magnitude 9 quake that devastated northern Japan struck in March.
3:52 PM PT: CNN Updates at 6:50 EST sticks with its 6.7 number, and says there is no evidence of a Tsunami, or reports of damage this far. The epicenter seems to be about 150 miles north of Fukushima.
4:06 PM PT: Thank to OLinda for bringing us this link to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, suggesting no Tsunami risk exists on this earthquake based on their historical database.
http://ptwc.weather.gov/...
WEPA42 PHEB 222159
TIBPAC
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 2159Z 22 JUN 2011
THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC
OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
... TSUNAMI INFORMATION BULLETIN ...
THIS BULLETIN IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
REPORTED BY THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY
ORIGIN TIME - 2150Z 22 JUN 2011
COORDINATES - 39.9 NORTH 142.5 EAST
DEPTH - 20 KM
LOCATION - NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN
MAGNITUDE - 6.7
EVALUATION
NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.
HOWEVER - EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE SOMETIMES GENERATE LOCAL TSUNAMIS THAT CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS LOCATED WITHIN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS OF THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION OF THE EPICENTER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
THIS WILL BE THE ONLY BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ALSO ISSUE TSUNAMI MESSAGES
FOR THIS EVENT TO COUNTRIES IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC AND SOUTH CHINA SEA REGION. IN CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION... THE MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.
THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS
FOR ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...WASHINGTON...OREGON...CALIFORNIA.
I'm working on our next ROV#60 update, so I'll be liveblogging here through the evening, if any further news becomes available, or people want to discuss, Fukushima, as long as we are here.
5:09 PM PT: Reuters Reports No Damage Reported -- No Damage To Nuclear Plants
7:50pm EDT
* Tsunami advisory lifted an hour after quake
* Nuclear watchdog, Tepco: no impact on nuclear power plants
* Same area was struck by March 11 quake, tsunami (Updates with tsunami advisory lifted, no impact on nuclear plants)
TOKYO, June 23 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 struck off the coast of Iwate prefecture in northeast Japan on Thursday, one of the areas devastated by the March 11 quake and tsunami, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
A warning of a tsunami of up to 50 cm (20 inches) was lifted about an hour after the quake, which occurred around 6:51 a.m. (2151 GMT Wednesday), but authorities warned residents to be wary of mudslides.
Tokyo Electric Power Co , struggling to control radiation leaks at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant due to damage in the March disaster, said there was no impact from Thursday's quake on its efforts to bring the reactors under control.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said there were no reports of abnormalities at Tohoku Electric Power's Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants in northeast Japan. Operations of these reactors have been halted since the March disaster.