A massive earthquake undersea struck off the northern shore in Japan at around midnight on the morning of Monday night, creating tsunami warnings as well as triggering evacuations for the coastal area.

Based on the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) the quake — initially described as magnitude 7.2 after which it was later revised to 7.6 it occurred at 11.15 p.m. (local time) (14:15 UTC) around 80 km from Aomori coast. Aomori coast, with an approximate depth of 53 kilometers.

The JMA issued a tsunami alert in the three prefectures: Aomori Prefecture, Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture, with forecasts that suggest waves could be as high as three metres across the Pacific coast.

Soon afterward, coastal communities were notified of tsunami waves that spanned 20 to 70 centimetresand even a surge in the port of Aomori -and residents of many low-lying regions were urged to leave.

Local media reported injuries, mainly at a hotel in the town of Hachinohe and video footage showed broken glass and other objects scattered across the streets, while a large number of residents flocked to evacuation centres.

Despite the force of the earthquake, authorities stated that they had no unusualities observed to date at nuclear power facilities within the area.

The government has urged residents of coastal areas to be alert, advising that more tsunami wavesthat could be larger than the one that hit could be coming, and warned citizens to stay away until the official all-clear announcements.