Tokyo, Japan – The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its tsunami warning for Japan’s southern islands to a “tsunami advisory” on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake in eastern Taiwan.

The JMA said waves as high as one metre (3.3 feet) could be recorded in the region following the earthquake. It had previously warned of an estimated maximum tsunami height of three metres. “Please avoid going near or into the sea until the advisory is lifted,” a JMA official said.

Meanwhile the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said Wednesday that the tsunami threat from a major earthquake in Taiwan “has now passed”.

The quake hit just before 8:00 am local time (0000 GMT) and had a magnitude of 7.4 according to the US Geological Survey, triggering tsunami warnings in Taiwan, southern Japan and the Philippines.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said Wednesday that the tsunami threat from a major earthquake in Taiwan “has now passed”.

The quake hit just before 8:00 am local time (0000 GMT) and had a magnitude of 7.4 according to the US Geological Survey, triggering tsunami warnings in Taiwan, southern Japan and the Philippines.

Earlier : Major Taiwan earthquake triggers tsunami warnings across region

Two buildings in Taiwan’s eastern city of Hualien collapsed after a strong earthquake on Wednesday, a fire department official told AFP.

“Two buildings have collapsed and some people are believed to be trapped. We don’t have more information at the moment,” said the official.