People living in the coastal areas of Japan are being urged to evacuate following a 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

The earthquake was 10km deep and was centred near Honshu. Watch a live stream as events unfold here.

Back in New Zealand, the MCDEM has assessed the information with the assistance of scientific advisors.

'Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand.”

Replay on NHK just now showed shaking from todays quake in Japan. pic.twitter.com/RFfxzcRS8X

— Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) November 21, 2016

Japan urges coastal evacuations after magnitude-7.3 quake strikes off Fukushima; tsunami warning in effect - @nhk_news pic.twitter.com/IfTTWhI47K

— BuzzFeed Storm (@BuzzFeedStorm) November 21, 2016

There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the 7.3M earthquake near the east coast of Honshu Japan.

— MCDEM (@NZcivildefence) November 21, 2016