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Major tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were issued in Japan on Monday following a series of earthquakes that reportedly trapped people under rubble on the west coast of its main island. More than a dozen earthquakes struck off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, one of them with a magnitude of 7.6, according to the Japan Meterological Agency (JMA).

A major tsunami warning means there is a possibility of waves of more than 3 metres. The weather department issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.

This marked the first major warnings since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan.

Russia also issued tsunami warnings in its far eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka.

As per a report by Reuters news agency, a JMA official said more strong quakes in the area could occur over the coming days as seismic activity has been simmering in the region for more than three years.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also warned residents to prepare for more disasters. He also urged people living in areas where tsunamis are expected to evacuate as soon as possible.

More than 36,000 households had lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, said utility provider Hokuriku Electric Power. No irregularities were observed at the nuclear plants along the Japanese coast, said the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The closest nuclear power station to the quake’s epicentre had already halted its two reactors before the earthquake for regular inspections and saw no impact, said the agency.

(With input from agencies)