A huge earthquake which hit central Japan on New Year's day has prompted mass evacuations as locals brace for a "16ft-high" tsunami.

Japan issued a major tsunami warning after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck.

The first waves, which have reached more than a metre high, have been spotted on the coast in Ishikawa prefecture.

However, authorities have warned of waves as high as 5m (16ft) while Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV urged people to flee to high land or to the top of nearby buildings.