Massive 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued: Report

A massive earthquake of 7.4 magntitude on the Richter scale has struck Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan, along the Japan Sea coast.

A major tsunami warning has been issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency for the prefecture.

Tsunami warnings were also issued for Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui and Hyogo prefectures, also along the Japan Sea Coast.

Tsunami of up to 5 metres high are believed to be reaching Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the weather agency.

The quake occurred at 4:10 pm local time, registering a maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. It also shook buildings in central Tokyo.

Japan, which sits on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the most quake-prone countries in the world.

A magnitude 9.0 quake on 11 March 2011, off Japan’s northeastern coast, triggered a massive tsunami, killed more than 18,000 and triggered a nuclear disaster.