According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), authorities issued a tsunami warning for waves up to three meters after a strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake slammed northern Japan on Monday night. Tremors were felt as far away as Tokyo when the earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off the prefecture of Iwate at 4:53 p.m. local time.
According to NHK, a public channel, tsunami waves have already been seen along portions of the coast and might soon reach heights of up to 3 meters (10 feet). Following the earthquake, bullet train operations between Tokyo and Aomori were suspended, according to Kyodo news agency, while Tokyo Electric Power stated it is assessing the effects of the earthquake on its systems.

The first tsunami waves might hit shorelines right after the earthquake, the weather service warned. Residents in impacted areas were asked to relocate as soon as possible to safer locales.
The agency advised people to "evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to safer places like high ground or an evacuation building." "Tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly," it continued. Until the alert is lifted, be on safe ground.
A crisis management team has been established to address the situation, according to the prime minister's office.
Japan's location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where four major tectonic plates converge, makes it extremely susceptible to earthquakes. Approximately 1,500 earthquakes occur in the nation each year, making up nearly 18% of all seismic activity worldwide.

Although the majority of these tremors are small, their effects vary depending on depth and location. The dangers were brought to light in 2011 after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake produced a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima facility and a tsunami that killed or left 18,500 people missing.