Japan issues Tsunami warning after 7.4 magnitude quake hits Ishikawa prefecture

After a strong earthquake of 7.6 magnitude struck the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture, approximately 300 km (190 miles) from Tokyo on Monday, Japan has issued a tsunami warning for nearly its entire western coast. “All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” AFP quoted National broadcaster NHK as saying. The earthquake occurred around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT) in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture. Reports from the public broadcaster indicated that a tsunami exceeding one meter has already impacted the town of Wajima. NHK further warned of the potential for a tsunami as high as 5 meters (16 feet) in Ishikawa prefecture, urging residents to move away from the coastal areas. “Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300 km of the epicenter along the coasts of Japan,” AFP quoted the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center as saying, while the Japan Meteorological Agency warned the waves could be up to five metres high. The earthquake’s impact was felt in Tokyo, although there are no immediate reports of damage. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority is actively assessing the situation at Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant and Hokuriku Electric Power Company’s Shika nuclear plants. With inputs from agencies