A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the northern Japanese coast Monday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami alert. The quake occurred off the coast of Sanriku at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time, at a depth of about six miles.
Japan's NHK public television reported that a tsunami of up to 10 feet could impact the region. Warnings have been issued for residents along the eastern coasts of Iwate Prefecture and the northern island of Hokkaido, urging them to evacuate to higher ground.
Initial reports indicate that two nuclear power plants in the northeast region, which are under a tsunami warning, have thus far been unaffected by the earthquake. This follows the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.