Major tsunami warning issued in Japan, with coastline bracing for 4.5 meter waves after massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake

Japan issued a major tsunami warning on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes shook western areas.

The Japan Meterological Agency reported an earthquake that struck Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, one of which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.4.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned that floodwaters could reach up to 5 meters high and urged people to flee as quickly as possible to high land or the top of a nearby building.

Reports of damage were not immediately available.

Hokuriku Electric Power said it is monitoring for any irregularities at its nuclear power plants, NHK reported.

This is a breaking story.