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A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast Monday, prompting authorities to issue tsunami warnings and urge residents to seek higher ground.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at approximately 1415 GMT at a depth of 53.1 kilometers (nearly 33 miles), off the coast of northern Aomori prefecture.
Japan's Meteorological Agency confirmed the quake's magnitude and warned that tsunami waves of up to three meters (10 feet) could hit parts of the country's Pacific coastline.
A 40-centimeter (16-inch) tsunami was observed following the initial tremor, officials said.
Public broadcaster NHK reported that the first waves were estimated to reach port areas between Aomori and Iwate prefectures by 11:40 p.m. local time (1440 GMT).
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake registered a seismic intensity higher than 6 on the country’s domestic scale of 0 to 7 — indicating very strong shaking.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido prefectures, while tsunami advisories were announced for Miyagi and Fukushima. Authorities advised residents in affected coastal areas to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
Meanwhile, the Tohoku Shinkansen high-speed rail service in northeastern Japan was suspended following the earthquake, Kyodo News reported.
No immediate reports of major damage or casualties were available.
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