Magnitude-7.6 earthquake hits north central Japan, prompts tsunami warnings

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Tsunami alerts have been issued in Japan after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake.(AP Photo: Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese officials have issued a tsunami warning, after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake hit north central Japan.

Key points:

• A Tsunami of up to five metres high is believed to be reaching Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture — more than 500km west of Tokyo 
• Waves more than one metre high hit the coast of Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture
• More than 36,000 houses are experiencing power outages

 

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning along western coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama prefectures.

A Tsunami of up to five metres high is believed to be reaching Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture — more than 500km west of Tokyo — according to the weather agency.

Waves more than one metre high hit the coast of Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Aired footage appeared to show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa, and tremors shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo on the opposite coast.

 

Japan's meteorological agency warns a tsunami could hit Noto's coast in the  Ishikawa Prefecture, seen highlighted here in purple. (Supplied: Japan Meteorological Agency)

More than 36,000 houses are experiencing power outages, according to Hokuriku Electric Power Company. 

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said no irregularities have been confirmed at nuclear power plants along the coastline. 

Hokuriku's Shika plant in Ishikawa, which was located the closest to the quake's epicentre, had already halted its two reactors before the quake for regular inspection and saw no impact from the quake, the agency said.

Reports of damage were not immediately available, according to the Associated Press.

Russia's emergency ministry said part of the Russian-controlled Sakhalin Island was under a tsunami threat with evacuations being carried out, according to state-owned news agency TASS.

South Korea's meteorological agency also said the sea level in some parts of the Gangwon province on the nation's east coast may also rise following the earthquake. 

A huge earthquake and tsunami struck north eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, devastating towns and triggering nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.

Reuters/ AP