Magnitude 7.3 quake jolts northeastern Japan, 1st tsunami wave observed

A traffic jam is seen as people evacuate after tsunami advisories were issued following an earthquake, in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo November 22, 2016.(Photo/Agencies)

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 struck northeastern Japan's Fukushima on Tuesday, the weather agency said.

The 5:59 a.m. quake registered lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 in northeastern Fukushima prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Three-meter tsunami warning was issued and the first wave of tsunami was observed at offshore waters 20 km east of Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture.

The epicenter of the quake was at a latitude of 37.3 degrees north and a longitude of 141.6 degrees east and occurred at depth of 10 km, said the weather agency.

The temblor was centered in waters offshore of northeastern Fukushima prefecture which borders the Pacific Ocean and is to the northeast of the nation's capital city of Tokyo.

The jolt could be felt in central Tokyo and also shook other northeastern Japanese prefectures including Tochigi and Ibaraki.

Shinkansen train services were partially suspended in eastern Japan.

So far there were no abnormalities noticed at any of the nation's nuclear plants, including Fukushima No.1 and No.2 nuclear power stations in Fukushima prefecture and Onagawa nuclear station in northeastern Miyagi prefecture.

So far no major damage or injuries were reported.