A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck early on Tuesday local time off the Japanese coast about 70km northeast of Iwaki, Fukushima.

The quake, with a depth of 25km, occurred about 6am and tsunami waves began to hit Japan's Pacific coast in numerous areas including Fukushima Prefecture about 7am.

Initial waves were between 30-90cm in high but larger waves were expected to hit after that.

By 8am, 1.4m tsunami waves were observed in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, north of Fukushima.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency said tsunami waves could reach three metres high and warned people to evacuate in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

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A tsunami warning is in place for Fukushima, Japan, and people have been warned to evacuate

Books are scattered on the floor at a library in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, after the quake

A fishing boat believed to have been overturned by a tsunami following a strong earthquake in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan

Passengers crowd at Sendai Station in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, after train services are suspended following the earthquake

Vehicles make a line as they flee following a tsunami warning in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture early on Tuesday morning, local time

Tsunami warnings and advisories were in place for a long stretch of the country's Pacific coast.

They have also warned multiple tsunami waves will strike the coast.

Residents were warned to remain on safe ground until all tsunami warnings were cleared.

Large waves were seen at a number of areas along the coast, however, it was not clear if they were related to the tsunami.

About 8am, Japanese authorities also warned that landslides could occur in earthquake-affected areas.

Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. A cooling system at the plant was damaged after the earthquake and stopped working but was repaired later on Tuesday morning

Waves caused by the tsunami flow up a river in Japan near where the earthquake struck

Japan Meteorological Agency earthquake expert Koji Nakamura speaks about a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 that struck off the coast of Fukushima prefecture

Mr Nakamura points a map of Fukushima and its surrounding prefecture

Japan Meteorological Agency's earthquake and volcano observations division director Koji Nakamura in front of a map showing the earthquake's epicentre

They also revised the magnitude of the quake up from the USGS report of magnitude 7.3 at 10km depth to 7.4 at a depth of 25km.

Numerous aftershocks between magnitude 4.4 and 5.4 were felt before 9am local time.

About 9.30am tsunami warnings were downgraded in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures.

Despite that, people were still advised to stay away from water and coastal areas.

A map shows the epicentre of the earthquake marked with a star

Water flows up river in the Sunaoshi River in Tagajo, Miyagi prefecture as the tsunami hits

Firefighters and others watch the port to check the water level as a tsunami warning is issued following an earthquake in Soma, Fukushima prefecture

Local residents look out to sea from higher ground after evacuating their homes

People have been warned to evacuate coastal areas like this port in east Japan

A tsunami warning is in place for much of Japan's east coast

A man who fled from his home watches a TV news report on the tsunami warning at an evacuation center in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture

According to reports from NHK World, a cooling system at Fukushima number two nuclear plant's third reactor stopped operating following the quake.

No cooling water had leaked out but the temperature of the water had began to increase slightly, NHK reported.

However, it could take a week for temperatures to reach dangerous levels.

By about 8.30am Japan time the cooling system was operational again, reports said.

Other nuclear plants are being monitored for damage.

Aftershocks were reportedly felt as far away as Tokyo.

By about 8am in Japan, minor injuries were being reported.

About 7.30am local time Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an address regarding the earthquake and tsunami, requesting accurate information about the situation be shared.

Fukushima Dai-ni nuclear power plant in Futaba, Fukushima Prefecture following the earthquake on Tuesday. Plant operator TEPCO said a pump that supplies cooling water to a spent fuel pool at No. 3 reactor, second right, of the plant stopped working, but that a backup pump had been launched to restore cooling water to the pool

Another image of the Fukushima Dai-ni nuclear power plant on Tuesday after the quake

In this aerial image, Fukushima Daiichi Nucler Power Plant is seen after an 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck on March 11, 2011

A fire at the discharge canal sampling building of Unit 1-4 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011

An aerial view of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 20, 2011

A satellite view, the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power plant after a massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami

The north side of Radiation Waste Treatment Facility taken from 4th floor of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

A view of damage to No. 3 reactor building at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on February 24, 2016. Five years on, the decontamination and decommissioning process continues

This image reveals the extent of the damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant days after it was crippled

The epicentre of the quake was near Fukushima, where in 2011 an earthquake caused a nuclear plant meltdown.

On March 11 that year, a 9.1 earthquake struck of Japan's east coast at a depth of about 24km.

It caused a tsunami with waves up to nine metres high, which damaged nuclear reactors.

More than 20,000 people died or were reported missing following the quake and tsunami.

Debris is scattered on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan, after a tsunami struck the area

The Hamayuri, a catamaran sightseeing boat, sits atop a two-story Japanese inn building in the tsunami debris in Iwate Prefecture following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami

Damage caused by a tsunami in Japan in 2011

Damage caused by a large tsunami in Japan in 2011 which affected large areas

Fukushima Prefecture Police officers wearing radiation protective gear search for bodies of victims

A boat that caught on fire following the March 11 tsunami lies in Kesennuma port, Miyagi prefecture

A local resident looks for items from his mother's car amid mud and debris in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture just days after the March 11 earthquake