A map showing the location of the earthquake (Picture: Metro Graphics)

A tsunami alert has been issued for north-east Japan after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s coast.

The quake reached a 4 on Japan’s own seven-point intensity scale,which measures the ‘shindo’ – or severity of shaking.

Residents of Iwate,in the north of Honshu island,were warned to expect waves of up to one metre along the coast.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency has put out a tsunami advisory,the second-highest alert below a warning.

That means the strength of the currents and waves are likely to be dangerous to those either in the water or very near the shore.

Those in the area are warned to stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.

Nearly two million people were rushed to safety from coastal areas in the north of Japan in July following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the far east of Russia.

Some less-populated areas of Asia were hit with waves almost four metres high,while the Japanese islands of Hokkaido and Honshu saw waves of up to one metre.

Today’s earthquake struck just after 5pm local time (8am UK time).

The meteorological agency said it took place at a depth of 10km off the coast of Sanriku,a stretch of coastline covering the north-eastern portion of Honshu.

A tsunami forecast for a slight change in sea level was also issued for the east coast of Hokkaido and other northern islands,as well as a broader stretch of the Honshu coast.