HONSHU, JAPAN--A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off the cost of Japan, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The strong temblor hit just after 5:18pm local time and initially triggered Tsunami warnings in the region, which have since been lifted.
Currently, there is no Tsunami watch or warning in effect for California or the west coast of the United States.
The quake struck in the same region where a destructive magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit in March of 2011, which killed or left missing some 19,000 people, causing a meltdown of the Fukushima Dia-Ichi nuclear power plants. Tokyo Electric Power Co which owns and operates the Fukushima plant as well as others in the region issued a statement that there were no problems at any of their other nuclear plants in the area following the latest quake.
Early reports tell of buildings swaying in downtown Tokyo for several minutes. Local broadcasts were urging residents of low lying areas to seek higher ground immediately.
Stay with Your Central Coast News and KCOY.com throughout the morning for further updates on this developing story.
