A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo (AP photo)
A strong 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, triggering a tsunami of up to 70 centimeters along the Pacific coast and prompting warnings of potentially higher surges. Several people were injured, and tens of thousands were advised to evacuate as authorities scrambled to assess the situation, according to reports from Associated PRess.Tsunami hits northern coastThe quake struck around 11.15 pm. local time (1415 GMT) about 80 kilometers off the coast of Aomori, Japan’s northernmost Honshu prefecture. A tsunami measuring 70 centimeters was recorded at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, while other coastal areas reported waves up to 50 centimeters. Officials issued alerts for potential surges as high as 3 meters in some locations.Injuries and damage reportedSeveral people were injured in Hachinohe, Aomori, including hotel guests, while a man in Tohoku was slightly hurt when his car fell into a hole. Fires were reported in Aomori, and around 90,000 residents were advised to seek shelter in evacuation centers, according to local media reports cited by AP.Emergency response under wayChief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged residents to move to higher ground or take shelter indoors. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of an emergency task force to assess damage, saying, “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can.”Safety checks for nuclear plants Nuclear power plants in the region are undergoing safety inspections. So far, no issues have been detected, according to authorities.Witness accountsResidents reported chaos during the quake. Satoshi Kato, vice principal of a Hachinohe high school, described shattered glass and traffic jams as people tried to reach evacuation centers.