Tokyo, April 20 (QNA) - A powerful earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale struck on Monday off the coasts of Iwate, Hokkaido, and Aomori in Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said in a report that the epicenter of the quake was offshore, at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The Agency warned of the possibility of tsunami waves reaching up to three meters as a result of the quake.

There were no reports of immediate confirmed reports of casualties, while the relevant authorities continue to monitor the aftermath of the earthquake and take necessary measures.

In the same context, the operator of the Tohoku Shinkansen high-speed train announced the suspension of service between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations due to the earthquake.

In 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 magnitude, accompanied by tsunami waves, killed more than 15,000 people and caused a disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. (QNA)