Major Japan quake triggers tsunami waves, residents told to run

According to the updates, Tsunami waves over a meter high hit central Japan on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes that damaged homes, closed highways and prompted authorities to urge people to run to higher ground.

A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture. Japan's weather agency reported a succession of 21 quakes of 4.0 magnitude or stronger hitting the nation's central region in just over 90 minutes.

Tsunami waves as high as 1.2 meters hit Wajima port in Ishikawa prefecture, about 10 minutes after the strongest jolt, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometers of the quake's epicentre along the coast, on the Japan's main island of Honshu. The Japanese government said it was still assessing what damage had been caused and whether there had been any casualties.