Tsunami waves hit Japan after powerful 7.6 earthquake

A 7.6magnitude earthquake hit central Japan on Monday (January 1) promptingofficials to issuetsunami warning.Japan's national broadcaster NHKhas reported that some of the first tsunami waves havealready hit the Japanese shores.The official alert urged people to move to higher grounds.

"All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground," national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT).

NHK reported that a 5-metre tsunami has already hit Noto, while Niigata, Sado Island and Toyama have been lashed by tsunami waves of 3 metres in height. Warnings for other regions predict tsunami waves of up to1 metre high.

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United StatesHawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Center has said that Hazardous tsunami waves are possible within 300 km range of the epicentre of the earthquake.

Japan Meteorological Agency had earlier predicted that that the tsunami waves could reach up to five metres high.

The latest tsunamis haverefreshed memories of devastation in 2011 when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake had triggered tsunami wave leadingto nuclear meltdownat the Fukushimaplant.

NHK has reported that Hokuriku Electric Power was checking for any irregularities at the nuclear power plants it operates.

According to Reuters,a spokesperson of Kansai Electric Powersaid that though there were no abnormalities at nuclear plants operated by the company, it was closely monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has said that no abnormalities have been reported from the nuclear power plants in the countryso far.

(With input from agencies)