Japan has been rocked by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, triggering tsunami warnings and sparking evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents.
The massive quake struck late on Monday about 11.15pm local time (1.15am AEDT) in the country’s northeast coast.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) said it the epicentre was 80 kilometres east-northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of about 50 kilometres.
Tsunami alerts were issued in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate preferctures.
JMA warned tsunamis “will strike repeatedly”.
“There is a risk of damage from a tsunami,” the alert stated.
“People living in coastal areas or along rivers should immediately evacuate to high ground, evacuation buildings, or other safe places. Tsunamis will strike repeatedly.
“Do not leave a safe place until the warning is lifted.”
A tsunami 40 centimetres in height reached Aomori’s Mutsu Ogawara and Hokkaido’s Urakawa ports just before midnight local time.
While other areas have experienced 20 to 70 centimetre tsunamis.
Locals and tourists rushed to nearby shelters, as they sat on thin mattresses and kept warm with blankets waiting for news.
Others in the evacuation zone jumped into cars and drove for higher ground.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the media there are reports of at least seven people injured. Local media, citing a worker, say all are conscious and in hospital.
The full scale of damage to infrastructure will not be known until the morning.
Security vision showed the inside of one office shaking wildly during the earthquake, with paperwork knocked to the ground and blinds and signs swinging for 90 seconds.
“Japan’s disaster preparedness saves lives, but the sheer force of this quake is shocking,” the post on X read.
“May every family find protection and every soul find courage.”
Japan is one of the countrie’s most prone to earthquakes as it sits on the Ring of Fire where volcanic and seismic activity happens often.
Close to 700 people died and more than 1400 were injured on New Year’s Day last year when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.
