A significant 7.6 magnitude earthquake has struck central Japan, according to the US Geological Survey.
The tremor prompted Japanese authorities to issue a tsunami warning, urging residents in the affected area to seek higher ground immediately. "All residents must move quickly to elevated areas," said national broadcaster NHK, after the quake hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture around 16:10 local time on Monday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, based in Hawaii, cautioned that "dangerous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within a 300 km radius around the epicentre along Japan's coasts."
In its warning, the Japanese Meteorological Agency indicated that these waves could reach heights of up to five metres.
Japan's government confirms no anomalies in its nuclear power plants in light of the earthquakes so far. "At present, no abnormalities have been confirmed at Shika nuclear power plant, in Ishikawa and at other facilities," stated government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi.
A huge earthquake and tsunami previously struck northeastern Japan on 11 March 2011, resulting in 18,000 deaths. The disaster devastated towns and triggered nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.
