Tokyo - On Monday, western Japan experienced the impact of a formidable 7.4-magnitude earthquake, as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Immediate tsunami warnings were issued for Ishikawa and adjacent areas.

The seismic event unfolded at 16:10 (JST) in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture, triggering tsunami alerts for Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui, and Hyogo prefectures along the Japan Sea coast, according to Japan's NHK broadcaster.

NHK urgently advised residents to seek refuge on higher ground or the top floors of nearby buildings, emphasizing the potential for water torrents reaching up to 5 meters. The broadcaster's directive, issued at approximately 4:10 pm, stressed the imperative need for immediate evacuation.

Weather agencies indicated that tsunami waves could extend up to 300 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter. The JMA noted a rapid sequence of quakes in the Noto region, commencing with a 5.7-magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time. Subsequent quakes included a 7.6-magnitude at 4:10 pm, a 6.1-magnitude at 4:18 pm, a 4.5-magnitude at 4:23 pm, a 4.6-magnitude at 4:29 pm, and a 4.8-magnitude at 4:32 pm. The US Geological Survey reported another quake with a magnitude of 6.2 shortly after.

A tsunami, anticipated to reach around 3 meters in height, was expected to impact Niigata and other western coast prefectures. NHK confirmed smaller tsunami waves had already reached the coastline, including areas with nuclear facilities. Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant operator, stated it was assessing the situation, with no immediate reports of abnormalities.

This seismic event occurred a decade after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, in northeastern Japan, which led to nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima. In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude quake off the coast of Fukushima rattled large areas of eastern Japan.