A banner that reads "Fukushima" is placed in front of a giant symbolic Japan's national flag to mark the third year anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, March 11, 2014. REUTERS/
A banner that reads "Fukushima" is placed in front of a giant symbolic Japan's national flag to mark the third year anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, March 11, 2014. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler .

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Japan on Tuesday at 8:47 am, triggering minor tsunamis on the northern coast. At the shore of Miyaki in eastern Iwate, waves of 10 centimetres hit the area, while it was 20-centimetre waves in Kuyi town, north of Miyako.

ABC reports that small waves continue to lap the shores in Iwate. But because only small waves were recorded, Japan lifted a tsunami advisory it issued for the country’s north-eastern coast hours after the earthquake rocked Japan just barely a month to the fourth year anniversary of the deadly magnitude 9 temblor that rocked the country on March 11, 2011.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre likewise stated there was no danger of a tsunami to hit the Pacific region.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake’s magnitude was 6.8, but the Japan Meteorological Agency measured it at 6.9, with a depth of 10 kilometres. Its epicenter was 210 kilometres east of Miyako.

So far, there are no reports of injuries or casualties, but officials in Ofunato City in Iwate issued an evacuation advisory to over 1,350 households in the area. Residents were told to keep away from the sea.

TEPCO, operator of the Fukushima nuclear power plants that were badly destroyed by the 2011 earthquake, tweeted that there are no abnormalities at its damaged facility after the tremor and tsunami alert.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au