Japan tsunami: A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of central Japan on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders along the country’s northern coast.
The epicenter was located in the ocean off the coast of Ishikawa prefecture, where authorities warned of 5-meter (16-foot) high tsunami waves. Tsunami warnings were also issued in the nearby prefectures of Niigata and Toyama.
Japanese television urgently broadcast evacuation orders, with warnings flashing on screen telling residents to “flee to higher ground.” Highways were closed and over 36,000 households lost power in the affected regions.
While no casualties have yet been reported, videos emerged of homes and trains violently shaking amid the seismic activity. Over 20 tremors measuring above magnitude 4 shook the area in the span of 90 minutes, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The major tsunami warning is the first since 2011 when a deadly 9.0 quake set off waves as high as 40 meters, causing widespread destruction along the northeastern coast of Japan. Nearly 18,000 people were killed in the 2011 disaster.
Officials warned residents to prepare for potentially damaging aftershocks. Neighboring South Korea also warned of possible tsunami waves on its eastern shore.
Japan tsunami: Japan sits along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it prone to frequent earthquakes and tidal waves. However, thanks to advanced early warning systems, Monday’s tsunami alerts were issued extremely quickly in order to maximize public safety.