Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 hit north central Japan on Monday, Reuters quoted the public broadcaster NHK as having said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning along coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama prefectures.

Hokuriku Electric Power said it was checking for any irregularities at its nuclear power plants, NHK reported.

A tsunami of 1.2 metres was confirmed to have arrived in Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture.

The JMA said the Noto region, on the Sea of Japan side of Japan's main island of Honshu, experienced a rapid succession of quakes, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time.

This was followed by a 7.6-magnitude quake at 4:10 pm, a 6.1 magnitude quake at 4:18 pm, a 4.5 magnitude one at 4:23 pm, a 4.6 magnitude quake at 4:29 pm, and 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 pm.

Another quake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit soon after, the US Geological Survey said.