A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off eastern Aomori Prefecture around 11:15 p.m. Monday, triggering a tsunami warning for coastal areas of Aomori, Iwate and Hokkaido prefectures.
People in affected areas are being advised to immediately evacuate to higher ground.
The waves are expected to be up to 3 meters high on the Iwate Prefecture coast, the central Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido and the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture.
One-meter high waves are expected on the coasts of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, the Sea of Japan coast of Aomori Prefecture, and the Western and Eastern Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido.
According to local media, a tsunami about 40 centimeters high was observed at the Mutsu Ogawara Port in Aomoroi Prefecture at 11:43 p.m.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) registered a seismic intensity of upper-6 on the Japanese shindo scale in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
According to the JMA, the quake occurred at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers.
The government set up a crisis management office at the Prime Minister’s Office in response to the earthquake.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
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