A massive magnitude-7.6 earthquake has struck Ishikawa Prefecture, in central Japan, along the Japan Sea coast.

A tsunami warning categorized as major has been issued for the prefecture. Tsunami warnings were also issued for prefectures of Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui and Hyogo, also along the Japan Sea Coast.

Tsunami advisories have been issued for the remaining prefectures on the Japan Sea Coast.

It's the first time the "major tsunami warning" was issued since 2011 earthquake in northeastern Japan. The warning is issued when tsunami of 3 meters or more are expected.

The city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, has observed tsunami of more than 1.2 meters at 4:21 p.m. on Monday following the quake.

The city of Toyama, Toyama prefecture, also reported tsunami of 80 centimeters at 4:35 p.m.

The city of Kashiwazaki, Niigata prefecture, observed tsunami of 40 centimeters at 4:36 p.m.

Tsunami have been reaching the Japan Sea coast.

Tsunami will repeatedly hit the coast and may become higher.

People in those areas must evacuate immediately.

Escape to higher ground and go as far away as possible from the coast.

East Japan Railway Company says operation of the Akita Shinkansen line was suspended around 5 p.m. local time. The Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen lines have been also stopped services and it is not known when service will resume.

The operator of a nuclear power plant in the town of Shika in Ishikawa Prefecture says it is checking whether the quake has impacted the plant.

Hokuriku Electric Power Company says both of the two reactors at the Shika nuclear power plant have been off line.