Japan issues tsunami alert after series of strong quakes off its western coast

TOKYO (AP) — Japan has issued tsunami alerts after a series of strong earthquakes shook western areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a quake hitting Ishikawa and nearby prefectures Monday, one of them with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned torrents of water could reach as high as 5 meters, or about 16.5 feet, and urged people to flee to high land or the top of a nearby building as quickly as possible. Reports of damage were not immediately available.