TOKYO – A significant earthquake jolted northern Japan’s coast on Monday, leading to the issuance of a tsunami warning, as reported by the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

The agency detailed that the earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.2, occurred off the coast of Hokkaido, close to Aomori, with its epicenter situated approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) beneath the ocean surface.

A tsunami alert was declared for the area, with expectations of waves potentially reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet) high.

Meanwhile, NHK, the national broadcaster, noted that nuclear power facilities in the vicinity were undergoing precautionary safety inspections.