The 7.3-magnitude earthquake caused a small tsunami in Japan

An early earthquake shook the region of northern Japan and resulted in small tsunamis.

The epicenter of the earthquake occurred near 6am (local time) offshore near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, with a depth of about 10 km. Reuters reported from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) that the magnitude 7.3 earthquake and the people in Tokyo could feel the shaking.

Earthquakes occurred in areas where there was a nuclear disaster in 2011. (Photo: USGS).

The American Seismic Survey later said that the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.9 on the Richter scale.

According to the JMA, a 1m high tsunami was recorded around Fukushima plant, a tsunami warning of up to 3m was released. Images on Japanese television show that the ships leave the port of Fukushima after the warning.

All coastal nuclear power plants have stopped working. This is the area where the earthquake and tsunami occurred in 2011 that caused the Fukushima plant to be damaged, causing radioactive leaks to the sea and air.

There has been no confirmation of damage to nuclear power plants but power outages have occurred in some areas, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company spokesman.

Japan is a place where earthquakes often occur, accounting for about 20% of the magnitude 6 earthquake or more of the world.

In March 2011, the 9-magnitude earthquake, the strongest in Japanese history, caused a tsunami that led to the worst nuclear disaster from the Chernobyl incident 25 years ago.