Tsunami warning issued after 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan

A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook northern Japan on Dec. 8, prompting warnings of a tsunami as high as 10-feet and triggering evacuation orders.

The earthquake struck at 11:15 p.m. local time and was centered off the coast of Aomori prefecture, located on the northern tip of Japan's main island, Honshu.

Multiple prefectures across northern Japan were under tsunami warnings, including Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate. A tsunami advisory was issued for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, according to NHK, a public broadcaster in Japan.

According to the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center, no tsunamis are expected in Alaska, Hawaii or the West Coast states of California, Oregon and Washington.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a news conference that authorities were assessing the damage. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru told reporters that the strongest tremors were recorded in the city of Hachinohe.

NHK reported that multiple people were injured at a hotel in Aomori. The broadcaster also reported that authorities were assessing nuclear power plants.

Officials ordered residents to evacuate parts of Hokkaido, as trains and air travel delays piled up.

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries on the planet due to its location on the "Ring of Fire," where volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches partly encircle the Pacific Basin.

This story will be updated.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan warns of tsunami 10-feet high after major earthquake