Japan earthquake: Major tsunami warning issued after wave of strong earthquakes hit

The first waves, which have reached more than a metre high, have been spotted on the coast in Ishikawa prefecture.

However, authorities have warned of waves as high as 5m (16ft) while Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV urged people to flee to high land or to the top of nearby buildings.

Twenty-one quakes above 4.0 magnitude were recorded shortly after 4pm local time (7am UK time).

Footage of the destruction shows buildings collapsing in Suzu as huge cracks appeared in roads.

Others videos shared on social media feature shoppers being thrown to the floor of a store and flooding at a train station after water pipes burst.

A presenter on broadcaster NHK told viewers: "We realise your home, your belongings are all precious to you, but your lives are important above everything else. Run to the highest ground possible."

Parts of the western coast Sakhalin island, located close to Japan on Russia's Pacific seaboard, are also said to be under threat of tsunami.

Around 33,500 households on the western coast of Honshu have been left without power, according to local utilities.

Concerns are growing that Japan's coastal nuclear power plants could be affected.

However, no issues have yet been detected, officials have said.

Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said: "It has been confirmed that there are no abnormalities at Shika nuclear power plant (in Ishikawa) and other stations as of now.

"Every minute counts. Please evacuate to a safe area immediately."

The latest earthquake comes after a 9.0-magnitude undersea quake off northeastern Japan caused destruction in March 2011, which triggered a tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing.