Tsunami warning as 7.4 magnitude quake hits off Japan

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

It warned of a tsunami as high as 3 metres (9.84 ft) in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, reports Reuters.

The tremor had an epicentre in the Pacific Ocean and was 10 km deep, according to the JMA.

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.