A powerful earthquake - with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale - hit the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan around 4:10 p.m. on Monday, triggering multiple tsunami warnings and evacuation orders in several regions, reports say.

The Japan Meteorological agency issued a major tsunami warning for the Noto Peninsula facing the Japan Sea and ordered residents to leave for higher ground immediately, warning that there could be waves as high as five meters, or 16 feet, in Noto and as high as three meters along the coasts of Sado Island, as well as in prefectures including Niigata and Toyama.

Residents in the coastal Noto area in Ishikawa prefecture were asked to "evacuate immediately to higher ground," national broadcaster NHK said.

Public television flashed "EVACUATE" in big letters, urging people to move to higher ground for safety.