Japan says 5-metre tsunami expected after 7.5 magnitude earthquake

Western Japan was hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Monday as per the Japan Meteorological Agency and the United States Geological Survey.

Tsunami warnings have been released for coastal areas of western Japan, and residents have been asked to leave their homes.

Japan’s western coast has already experienced tsunami waves of 1.2 meters (4 feet) or less. There has been damage to buildings and roads, and transportation and communication services have been disrupted.

Thousands of homes may experience power outages, according to officials. The earthquake was 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep and occurred at 4:10 p.m. local time northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa prefecture.

Japan’s weather department has warned that aftershocks may continue for up to a week.

According to officials, the powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit western Japan on Monday disrupted communications, closed roads, and flattened buildings.

At least five highways have been closed, and six people are reportedly trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Ishikawa prefecture.

Yoshimasa, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, said up to 33,000 households may experience power outages.

The power converter at the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa prefecture was impacted, but there were no significant findings, he told reporters.

According to Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, there were no issues with the reactors in the power plant.