Series of earthquakes hit Japan, triggering 5-foot tsunami waves, alert issued in Russia and Korea | IN PICS

On Monday, a strong earthquake hit central Japan, claiming at least one life, demolishing buildings, cutting power to tens of thousands of homes, and forcing residents to evacuate to higher ground.

The earthquake, with an initial magnitude of 7.6, generated waves approximately 1 meter high along the west coast of Japan and its neighboring country, South Korea.

Initially, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a significant tsunami warning for Ishikawa prefecture, the first since the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan, which claimed nearly 20,000 lives.
 

As of Monday night, the Japanese government mandated the evacuation of over 97,000 individuals in nine prefectures on the western coast of Honshu, Japan's main island.
 

Many rail services, ferries, and flights to the region are halted. Noto Airport shut down due to runway, terminal, and access road damage, leaving 500 people stranded in cars, as per public broadcaster NHK. 

A thousand army personnel were sent to the most affected region in the secluded Noto Peninsula. However, rescue efforts are impeded by severely damaged and blocked roads.

Cracks are seen on a bridge following an earthquake in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture. The most impacted region was Asachi-dori street, a district renowned for its numerous wooden structures and popular among visitors.

The aerial shot shows smoke rising from an area following a large fire in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture. The earthquake's epicenter was on the peninsula jutting into the Sea of Japan, with a higher concentration of casualties and injuries in that area.