Japanese authorities have ordered the evacuation of around 90,000 people after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the country’s northeast, local media reported.
A tsunami warning of up to three meters high has also been issued, and waves of 20 to 70 centimeters have been recorded in ports so far, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The initial magnitude of 7.2 was later revised to 7.6 on the Richter scale. The quake struck at 11:15 p.m. local time.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures. The epicenter of the earthquake was 80 kilometers off the coast of Aomori prefecture, at a depth of 50 kilometers.
Japan Railways has suspended services in some areas in the east of the country, and there are no reports of major material damage so far, according to public broadcaster NHK.
No irregularities have been reported in the operation of nuclear power plants, utility companies said.
