Earthquake in Japan: 7.3 Magnitude Strikes Japan, Triggers Small Tsunamis

Firefighters persuade residents to evacuate after a strong earthquake hit the area in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo December 7, 2012. A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 centred off the coast of northeastern Japan shook buildings as far as Tokyo and led to a tsunami warning for coastal areas of the northeast, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday. Mandatory Credit. REUTERS/Kyodo

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northeastern Japan triggering small tsunamis and causing some injuries.

A tsunami waring was issued, but later cancelled.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii.

The earthquake was 33 km deep and was located off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

"I was in the centre of the city the very moment the earthquake struck. I immediately jumped into the car and started running away towards the mountains. I'm still hiding inside the car," said Ishinomaki resident Chikako Iwai, according to Reuters. "...I have the radio on and they say the cars are still stuck in the traffic. I'm planning to stay here for the next couple of hours."

Today's earthquake come more than a year after a 9.0 magnitude devastating earthquake struck near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan. It killed nearly 20,000 people and triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.

According to Reuters, all but two of Japan's 50 nuclear reactors have been idled since the Fukushima disaster as the government reviews safety.

Tokyo has a population of 12 million people and is located on tectonic plates the Eurasian, North American, Philippine and Pacific tectonic plates.