A major earthquake struck northern Japan on Monday, prompting an official tsunami warning and evacuation order. Tidal waves of up to three meters (10 feet) could hit the country's northern coasts almost immediately, Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. "Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building," the agency said, adding that property damage was expected. "Do not leave safe ground until the warning is lifted," the JMA said. The area covered by the order extended as far north as Hokkaido, they said. The agency recorded an 80-centimeter (32-inch) tsunami near Kuji port in Iwate prefecture following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake. "For those of you who live in areas for which the warnings have been issued, please evacuate to higher, safer places such as higher ground," Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters, adding that the government was trying to confirm whether there were any casualties or property damage.…