Ammon News - An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck off the northeastern coast of ​Japan on Monday, as authorities urged residents to stay away from ‌coastal areas where tsunami waves of up to 3 metres (9.84 ft) were expected.

The tremor had an epicentre in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, according to ​the Japan Meteorological Agency. The biggest waves were expected in ​Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, authorities said.

Speaking to reporters, ⁠Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency ​task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to ​safety.

Broadcaster NHK showed ships sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the waves, as an alert 'Tsunami! Evacuate!' flashed across the screen.

Bullet train services ​in Aomori at the northern tip of Japan's main Honshu island were ​halted due to the tremors, Kyodo news agency reported.

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.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every ​five minutes. Located in ​the "Ring of ⁠Fire" of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20% of the world's ​earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more.

Reuters