Tsunami alert issued as earthquake strikes Japan

ISTANBUL (AA) - A powerful earthquake of 7.3 magnitude has struck northeastern coast of Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced early Friday that the quake occurred at around 6 a.m. at a depth of 10 kilometers off Fukushima city.

A tsunami alarm has been issued, and waves can reach up to 3 meters, the agency warns.

A 9.1-magnitude earthquake, which occurred in the same region on March 11, 2011, caused thousands of deaths and a radioactive leak in the Fukushima nuclear plant.