Massive 7.4-magnitude earthquake triggers fears three-metre tsunami is about to hit Fukushima in Japan where a huge wave triggered a nuclear meltdown five years ago.

Axar.az reports, magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck early on Tuesday local time off the Japanese coast about 70km northeast of Iwaki, Fukushima. The quake, with a depth of 25km, occurred about 6am and tsunami waves began to hit Japan's Pacific coast in numerous areas including Fukushima Prefecture about 7am. Initial waves were between 30-90cm in high but larger waves were expected to hit after that. By 8am, 1.4m tsunami waves were observed in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, north of Fukushima.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency said tsunami waves could reach three metres high and warned people to evacuate in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.