Fukushima nuclear plant briefly shut down in Japanese earthquake

NAMIE, Japan, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Tsunami warnings have been lifted and power has been restored in Japan after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the island nation's eastern coast.

"All tsunami warnings and advisories have been lifted," the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a statement. "Slight sea-level changes may be observed in coastal regions, but no tsunami damage is expected."

The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at 6 a.m. local time Tuesday at a depth of 7 miles off the coast about 22 miles from the town of Namie in Japan's Fukushima prefecture, where an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011 killed more than 15,000 people and damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

Japanese officials said no damage has been seen at the nuclear plant, adding that minor injuries were reported. About 1,900 homes briefly lost power.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, said its Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear plants resumed normal operations after cooling systems briefly went down.

"Fukushima Daiichi and Daini Units: no abnormalities found, no radiation level changes detected, no injuries reported after the earthquake," TEPCO said in a statement.

Tectonic activity that produces earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is common in Japan and other nations in the Pacific Rim, which is commonly referred to as the "Ring of Fire."