The USGS confirms a magnitude 6.8 earthquake northeast of Japan

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Tsunami advisories were issued for northeastern coastal regions of Japan by the Japan Meteorological Agency after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred shortly after 5 a.m. EDT. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reviewed the data and confirmed this earthquake 456 miles northeast of Tokyo, Japan. The epicenter of this earthquake is off the east coast of Honshu, near the epicenter of the historic magnitude 9.0 earthquake March 11, 2011.  Some people in Japan reported feeling the shaking as a result of today’s earthquake, and you can click here to see those reports of shaking coming in to the USGS in real-time. As of 6:50 a.m. EDT, no tsunami advisories remain in effect by the Japan Meteorological Agency.