UPDATE: A tsunami warning has been lifted following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked northeastern Japan on Saturday morning (March 20).

As reported by The Independent, the earthquake struck off the coast of the Miyagi prefecture (located 220 miles north of Tokyo on the east coast of Honshu island) at 06:26PM local time, or 09:26AM GMT.

The Japan Meteorological Agency later confirmed that the quake had a magnitude of 7.2 at a depth of 60km.

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In response, Japan public broadcaster NHK has issued a warning to residents that a one-meter-high tsunami could be expected to hit the Miyagi Prefecture, the Mirror reports.

Fortunately, there are currently no reports of damage or injuries.

The warning reportedly stated: "It is dangerous in the sea or near the coast. Those who are in the sea should immediately get out of the sea and leave the coast."

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Per Sky News, local shop worker Shizue Onodera told NHK: "It was a really bad, long shaking from side-to-side. It was even longer than the quake last month, but at least the building here is all right.

"Lots of bottles smashed on the floor," she added.

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The earthquake could also reportedly be felt in Tokyo - approximately 400km south of the epicenter.

The quake comes 10 years after the Miyagi prefecture was heavily damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

Thankfully, Tokyo Electric Power has reported that it has found no irregularities at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant - which had been severely damaged by the March 2011 quake. Additionally, a spokesperson also confirmed that there were no irregularities at the nearby Daini facility as well.

And the nuclear regulator confirmed no irregularities at Tohoku Electric Power Co’s Onagawa nuclear plant.

The devastating 2011 seismic event a decade ago resulted in caused nuclear meltdowns and mass evacuations.

The 2011 disaster also resulted in 20,000 deaths.

Featured image credit: Duy Phuong Nguyen / Alamy

UPDATE: Tsunami warning lifted after 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocks Japan