Japan has issued a major tsunami warning after a series of strong earthquakes.
The quakes hit Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, with one having a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
It issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the island of Honshu.
The epicentre of the Japan earthquake. Pic: USGS
Waves of up to 5m high are believed to be reaching Noto in Ishikawa, according to the meteorological agency.
Japanese broadcaster NHK urged people to flee to high land or the top of a nearby building as quickly as possible.
HSK warned tsunami waves could keep returning and warnings were continuing to be broadcast nearly an hour after the initial alert.
A tsunami nearly 3m high was expected to hit Niigata and other prefectures on the western coast of Japan.
There were no irregularities at any of Japan’s nuclear power plants following the earthquake, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said.
A pavement is broken due to an earthquake in Wajima City. Pic: AP
South Korea also warned the sea level in some areas along the east coast may rise after the earthquake.
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes. In March 2011 a major quake and tsunami caused meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
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