Japan Lifts Tsunami Warning 4 Hours After Tuesday Earthquake

Books are scattered on the floor at a library in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture (Photo: AP)

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 hit northern Japan at around 5:59 am on Tuesday. The quake, whose epicentre was off the coast of Fukushima prefecture, prompted tsunami advisories for much of the nation's northern Pacific coast.

Also Read: Japan: 7.3 Magnitude Quake Hits Fukushima, Prompts Tsunami Warning

Coastal communities resumed fishing operations as vessels returned to ports in Fukushima prefecture after a powerful earthquake sent a series of moderate tsunamis towards Japan's northeastern shore on Tuesday.

A number of ships sailed away from the Pacific coastline in the pre-dawn hours after authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged residents to seek higher ground immediately.

The warning was lifted nearly four hours later.

(With inputs from AP)