Tsunami warning issued as powerful earthquake hits Japan

A massive earthquake with magnitude 7.6 has hit Ishikawa in central Japan, triggering a tsunami warning and advisories for residents to evacuate and prepare for possible aftershocks.

A tsunami around one metre high (3.3 feet) struck parts of the west coast along the Sea of Japan, with a larger wave expected, public broadcaster NHK reported Monday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.

“All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10pm local time (07:10 GMT). It said another earthquake warning has been issued for Ishikawa.

Hazardous tsunami waves of up to five metres high (16.5 feet) were possible along the north coast of central Japan within 300km (186 miles) of a magnitude 7.5 quake’s epicentre, US and Japanese agencies said.

Top government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said in an emergency press conference that authorities were still checking the extent of the damage and warned residents to prepare for possible further quakes.

Footage aired by NHK appeared to show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa, and tremors shook buildings in the capital Tokyo on the opposite coast.

More than 36,000 households lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, utilities provider Hokuriku Electric Power said.

(with inputs from Al Jazeera)