A strong earthquake hit Japan early Saturday off of the coast of that country at 3:10 am(Friday 9:10 am-Alaska time) measuring a magnitude of 7.1. The quake was generated at a depth of six miles beneath the ocean floor.

The quake was originated approximately 180 miles off of the eastern coast of Japan east of the region of the beleaguered Fukushima power plant. The earthquake prompted the issuing of a tsunami advisory for the region.

Workers at the Fukushima plant were told to leave the waterfront area at the plant and to seek higher ground. One hour after the quake occurred, a one foot tsunami came ashore on Japan’s east coast causing no damage.

There were no reports of damage by the quake, and officials with TEPCO, operators of the Fukushima nuclear plant, reported no abnormalities at the site and no increased radiation levels were detected.

The Fukushima Diiachi Power Plant suffered extensive damage in the 9.0 magnitude March 2011 earthquake that generated a tremendous tsunami that devastated the region. Cleanup is continuing at that plant and is slated to take up to 30 years to complete that task.

47 minutes later, at 3:57 am, another smaller jolt hit the region, this one measuring 5.1. It also did not cause damage and no Tsunami was generated.

No watch, warning, or advisory was issued for Alaska or the west coast of the U.S.