Japan earthquake: powerful quake strikes north-east coast and triggers tsunami warning

Tremor registers magnitude 7.3, public broadcaster NHK reports

An earthquake caused goods to be scattered across the floor of a convenience store in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. Reuters

The powerful 7.3-magnitude quake jolted eastern Japan on Wednesday night, rattling the capital, Tokyo, and prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the northeast coast. AFP

People shop in a residential area during a power cut in Koto district, Tokyo. AFP

People queue for taxis at Sendai station after train services from the city were suspended. EPA

Travellers wait for rail services to resume at a train station in Tokyo. AP

Police officers in Tokyo try to restart traffic signals during a power cut by attaching an electric generator to the lights. Reuters

The floor of a restaurant in Fukushima is littered with food and broken crockery. EPA

Damaged pavement slabs in front of JR Fukushima Station appeared to have cracked due to the impact of the earthquake. AFP

Furniture and electrical appliances are scattered about an apartment in Fukushima. Reuters

Part of the wall of a condominium collapsed. Reuters

The earthquake, which cut power to more than two million households, was centred off the coast of Fukushima at a depth of 60 kilometres. AFP

A powerful earthquake has rocked Japan's north-east coast, leaving two million people without power and triggering a Tsunami warning.

Wednesday's tremor registered magnitude 7.3, public broadcaster NHK reported. It shook large parts of eastern Japan, including the capital Tokyo, where buildings shook violently.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake struck 60 kilometres below the sea at 11.36pm local time. A tsunami alert was issued for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force said it dispatched fighter jets from the Hyakuri base in Ibaraki prefecture, just south of Fukushima, for information gathering and damage assessment.

NHK said there were reports of fire, damage to buildings and falling rocks in Iitate town in Fukushima. There was no word on any casualties.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) said two million homes in the Kanto region were without power in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Tepco, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant that suffered meltdowns after the 2011 quake and tsunami that destroyed its cooling systems, said workers were checking for potential damage,

There were no immediate reports of any casualties.

East Japan Railway Co. said most of its train services were suspended for safety checks. Some local trains later resumed service.

Tsunami advisory / forecast off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture. Photo: Japan Meteorological Agency

A Tohoku Shinkansen express train partially derailed between Fukushima and Miyagi due to the quake, but nobody was injured, NHK said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that the government was assessing the extent of damage and promised to do its utmost for rescue and relief operations.

“Please first take action to save your life,” Mr Kishida tweeted.