A magnitude-7.4 earthquake hit the waters off the west coast of Japan's Honshu island at 4:10 p.m. (local time) on Monday (7:10 a.m. GMT), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter, with a depth of 30 km, was monitored at 37.50 degrees north latitude and 137.20 degrees east longitude, said the CENC.

Tsunami waves with a height of 1.2 meters reached the coast of Wajima city in Ishikawa Prefecture, local media NHK reported.

Tsunami warnings have been issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa prefectures and people have been urged to evacuate immediately.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company said they are checking the impact of the earthquake on their facilities. Hokuriku Electric Power said it is also checking for any irregularities at its nuclear power plants, NHK reported.

(With input from agencies)