Japan tsunami warning issued after 6.8 magnitude earthquake strikes (Image: JMA)
Niigata and Yamagata regions are on alert after the 6.8 magnitude quake struck this afternoon.
The quake struck at around 22:41 JST and hit 53 miles northeast of the island of Honshu.
The epicentre of the quake struck at a depth of about seven miles in the Sea of Japan.
The huge 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Tuesday afternoon (Image: JMA)
The city of Murakami (pop. 60,000) in Niigata Prefecture was among the hardest hit.
"Phone lines to city government, police and fire departments are knocked out, according to @nhk_news. #Japan #quake"
The affected regions have been placed on Tsunami alert, as well as in the Ishikawa prefecture.
A shake map showing where tremors struck
