Taiwan hit by strong earthquake, triggering tsunami warning in Japan

TOKYO/TAIPEI -- A powerful earthquake struck in the ocean near Taiwan on Wednesday morning, triggering a tsunami warning for coastal areas in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.

Japan's Meteorological Agency measured a preliminary magnitude of 7.5, while the quake registered at 7.2 in Hualien, according to Taiwan's central weather administration. 

Japanese officials warned of a tsunami that could reach as high as 3 meters.

It was not immediately clear how much damage the quake caused in Taiwan, where residents reported strong shaking. Power was out in several parts of Taipei, according to Reuters, while the metro system was suspended for safety checks.

This is a developing story and will be updated.