Officials in Japan have urged residents in certain coastal regions to seek higher ground and avoid returning to their homes due to the threat of a tsunami after a massive earthquake struck on Monday.
The New Year’s Day quake, whose preliminary magnitude was respectively measured at 7.5 by the U.S. Geological Survey and at 7.6 by Japanese agencies, was followed by multiple powerful aftershocks.
At least three deaths were reported by CNN, Financial Times and NBC. HuffPost did not independently confirm those reports.
The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a “major tsunami warning” for portions of Ishikawa prefecture, where the quake was centered, saying waves could reach roughly 16 feet. That warning was later downgraded, saying waves could potentially reach 10 feet.
Early Tuesday morning, the agency downgraded the alert again, to a tsunami advisory, but still advised residents that deadly waves could occur, according to the Associated Press.
The agency also advised residents to watch for additional potential quakes over the next few days.
On Monday, TV broadcasts urged “immediate” evacuation, with residents told to seek higher ground or move to the top floors of taller buildings.
Authorities issued warnings for Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui and Hyogo prefectures. Much of the rest of the coast along the Sea of Japan was placed under a tsunami advisory, where smaller waves may be expected.
Multiple rail lines ― including Shinkansen routes ― have been suspended, and some highways near the quake’s epicenter have been closed, according to NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster. There are also reports of fires, building collapses and landslides.
No abnormalities have been detected at the nation’s nuclear power plants, the government said.
North Korea and South Korea issued tsunami warnings to residents after the quake in Japan. South Korea’s meteorological agency reported a small tsunami on the country’s eastern coast Monday morning, and said that there was the potential for larger waves to come.
One of Japan’s worst natural disasters came in 2011, when a magnitude 9.0 quake triggered a tsunami, which in turn led to a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. More than 18,000 people were killed in that disaster.
Paige Lavender contributed to this report.