TOKYO – Northern Japan was rattled on Monday by a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which prompted a tsunami warning for coastal areas, according to the Japanese Meteorological Agency.

The tremor struck near Aomori, located at the northern tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu, and just south of Hokkaido. The agency confirmed that a 40-centimeter tsunami reached the town of Urakawa in Hokkaido and the port of Mutsu Ogawara in Aomori.

NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster, reported that several individuals sustained injuries at a hotel in Hachinohe, a town in Aomori.

Shortly after the initial quake, a 5.5-magnitude aftershock further shook the region.

Reacting swiftly, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of an emergency task force to evaluate the damage’s severity. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of the people, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions,” she stated.

“We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she said.

Nuclear power plants in the region were conducting safety checks, NHK reported.

DEVELOPING: We will add more details to this report as they become available.