UPDATE: Japan Quake Magnitude Reduced to 7.1

***Updated at 9:12 a.m.***

The US Geological Survey has determined that the tremor that struck about 200 miles east of the island of Honshu this morning had a magnitude of 7.1, although some reports are pegging its strength at 7.3.

Preliminary readings for the quake placed it at 7.5.

Tsunami of a little more than a foot tall were reported reaching Japan’s coast from the tremor which struck at a depth of 6.2 miles at 7:10 a.m., Hawaii time, and 3:10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, local time.

It occurred about 70 miles east-northeast of the 9.0-magnitude March 2011 Tohoku tremor off Japan. That earthquake generated a massive tsunami that caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage in Japan.

In Hawaii, damage tallies from that quake reached tens of millions of dollars, including six homes heavily damaged or destroyed in Kealakekua Bay in Kona.

Scientists said today’s earthquake was the third of magnitude of 7.0 or greater that have occurred in the same general area, on the eastern side of the Japan Trench, since March 2011. There have been 10 additional events in this region of magnitude 6.1 to 6.4 since then.

 Posted at 7:56 a.m.:

That was a big one.

Fortunately, the 7.5 earthquake that shook Japan this morning isn’t expected to cause a Pacific-wide tsunami.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reports that the quake took place at a depth of 10 km, off the east coast of the island of Honshu at approximately 7:20 a.m. Hawai`i time.

No watches or warnings are currently in place.