Japan tells residents to evacuate as powerful earthquake strikes north-east
90,000 people advised to take shelter after 7.5-magnitude quake, but tsunami warnings downgraded
A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake has shaken north-eastern Japan, prompting orders for about 90,000 residents to evacuate and tsunami warnings that hours later were downgraded to advisories.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially said a tsunami as high as 3 metres (10ft) could hit Japan’s north-eastern coast after the earthquake struck off the coast at 11.15pm (2.15pm GMT).