A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.6 shook north-central Japan this Monday afternoon, triggering a tsunami warning along the coastal areas of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures, as per the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The tremors, felt at approximately 4 pm local time, emanated from Ishikawa and neighboring prefectures. NHK reported one of the quakes measured a preliminary magnitude of 7.4, causing waves over 1 meter high to crash into Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.

NHK cautioned residents about potential 5-meter-high torrents of water and urgently advised seeking higher ground or the tops of nearby buildings. No immediate reports of damage or casualties were available.

Concerns arose regarding the safety of nuclear power plants. Hokuriku Electric Power stated they were scrutinizing their plants for any irregularities, while Kansai Electric Power assured no abnormalities were detected yet, maintaining a vigilant monitoring of the situation.

A 1-meter-high tsunami has already struck parts of the Sea of Japan coast, with expectations of larger waves to follow, according to NHK.

The earthquake, which struck with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, has prompted urgent warnings and safety measures across the affected regions.

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