A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook northern Japan on Dec. 8, prompting a tsunami warning and evacuation orders.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 10 feet could hit Japan’s northeastern coast.
The epicenter of the quake off the coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, the agency said. It struck at a depth of 30 miles.
Multiple prefectures across northern Japan were under a tsunami warning, including Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a news conference that authorities were assessing the damage.
NHK, a public broadcaster in Japan, reported that multiple people were injured at a hotel in Aomori. The broadcaster also reported that authorities were assessing nuclear power plants.
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries on the planet due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” where volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches partly encircle the Pacific Basin.
This story will be updated.
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan warns of tsunami 10-feet high after major earthquake
