A tsunami warning that was issued for Japan was downgraded to a watch at about 10 am local time.
A 6.7 magnitude earthquake, for which the epicenter was at a depth of about 14 miles, shook much of northeast Japan.
It was reported that the quake could be felt all the way in Tokyo, which is about 330 miles away.
Luckily, the estimated time that a wave would strike the coast with devastating effects came and went without event.
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.
The area that would have been affected by a tsunami is the same area that was wiped out and devastated in 2011.
5.3 earthquake, 138km E of Miyako, Japan. Feb 18 02:33 at epicenter (25m ago, depth 10km). http://t.co/cmmxBG842q
— Earthquakes Tsunamis (@NewEarthquake) February 17, 2015
That tsunami killed more than 18,000 people and triggered a near-catastrophic nuclear accident in Fukushima.
“Because the 3/11 earthquake had such a strong impact, and because it’s an area where it was affected by the 3/11 Earthquake, we are describing this as an ‘aftershock,'” said agency seismologist, Yasuhiro Yoshida
After the quake came and went, and the tsunami warning was issued, a reported 10,000 people had been urged to get to high ground.
However, the result was non-threatening. Small tsunamis were recorded along the coast of Iwate prefecture in Japan, but none that would have caused any damage.
5.8 earthquake, 48km SE of Hachinohe, Japan. Feb 17 13:46 at epicenter (19m ago, depth 40km). http://t.co/cGDjlBz7Db
— Earthquakes Tsunamis (@NewEarthquake) February 17, 2015
It was a pretty seismically active day for Japan, despite the downgrading of the tsunami warning.
4.9 earthquake, 96km E of Miyako, Japan. Feb 17 12:29 at epicenter (18m ago, depth 20km). http://t.co/8wZSNsVPGZ
— Earthquakes Tsunamis (@NewEarthquake) February 17, 2015
Thankfully, no one was injured in the earthquake that triggered Japan’s tsunami warning.
