A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning and advice for residents to evacuate and prepare for possible aftershocks.
A tsunami about 1 meter high hit parts of the west coast along the Sea of Japan, and a larger wave is expected, public broadcaster NHK reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.
Hayashi Yoshimasa, the government spokesman, told an emergency news conference that authorities were still checking the extent of the damage and warned residents to prepare for possible new quakes.
Images broadcast by NHK appeared to show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa, and tremors shook buildings in the capital Tokyo, on the opposite coast.
More than 36,000 homes lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, according to utility provider Hokuriku Electric Power.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no irregularities had been confirmed at nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan.
The Shika Hokuriku power plant in Ishikawa, closest to the quake’s epicenter, had already shut down its two reactors before the quake for routine inspections and saw no impact from the quake, the agency said.
(Tokyo editorial team)