Major 7.4-magnitude quake hits off Japan, tsunami warning issued

A television screen shows a news report on Japan Meteorological Agency's tsunami warning, saying it expected tsunami waves of up to 3 meters (9.84 feet) to reach large coastal areas in northern Japan after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, in Tokyo, Japan April 20, 2026. (REUTERS/Issei Kato)

TOKYO, April 20 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It warned of a tsunami as high as 3 metres (9.84 ft) in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefecturs.

The tremor had an epicentre in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, according to the JMA. 

The quake measured an 'upper 5' on Japan's seismic intensity scale -- strong enough to make it difficult for people to move around. In many cases, unreinforced concrete-block walls collapse.

(Reporting by Tokyo NewsroomEditing by Chang-Ran Kim)