Watch: First tsunami waves hit Japan after massive earthquake, residents asked to evacuate

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolted Japan on Monday afternoon. (Image: @Jim_OnTheRight/X)

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Monday afternoon, triggering tsunami alerts and prompting a warning for residents to evacuate affected coastal areas.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers around 42 kilometers northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa prefecture, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Japan Meteorological Agency immediately issued tsunami warnings along the coastal regions of western Japan and the first waves were reported just 10 minutes later.

Several videos doing the rounds of social media showed first waves hitting Wajima in Ishikawa prefecture. Waves reaching a height of 1.2 meters struck Wajima port, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Scary visuals, The 7.6 Earthquake in Western Japan today made the entire river/waterway jump out of its basin like it's

Tsunami warning across western Japan coast! #japan #tsunami pic.twitter.com/GTEpBbLcDn

— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) January 1, 2024

HAPPENING NOW: First visuals of HUGE wave hitting Suzu City in Japan#Earthquake #Japan #tsunami pic.twitter.com/1KH8D5yCTw

— JAMES - ONTHERIGHT (@Jim_OnTheRight) January 1, 2024

I have never seen such a horrific scene in my lifetime!

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may god protect all.#Tsunami #Tsunami #Japan
pic.twitter.com/Bq8Jz1t6h1

— RAKESH KUMAR (@IamRakeshKumar0) January 1, 2024

According to CNN, Suzu city officials said that buildings have been damaged and there were reports of injuries. No deaths have been reported so far.

Tsunami is the scariest thing #earthquake #Japan pic.twitter.com/ik2FKNBYdG

—January 1, 2024

#Japan #Tsunami #Earthquake #earthquake # #earthquake #deprem #sismo # #earthquake #tsunami pic.twitter.com/vgal8l9qRy

— January 1, 2024

A slew of earthquakes was also reported in the Noto region by the USGS, beginning with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm. This was rapidly followed by a huge 7.5 magnitude earthquake at t 4:10 pm, a 6.1 magnitude quake at 4:18 pm, a 4.5 magnitude jolt at 4:23 pm, a 4.6 magnitude quake at 4:29 pm, and a 4.8 magnitude tremor at 4:32 pm.

According to Japanese media reports, 3 levels of tsunami warnings have been issued to residents in different states. Numerous videos on X also showed giant cracks on the roads and the devastation that the massive earthquake caused.