Tsunami warning lifted after quake hits south of Japan

TOKYO — School children were evacuated to higher ground on some islands and buildings swayed in Taipei after a strong earthquake struck Monday in seas east of Taiwan and south of Okinawa.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued an advisory for a tsunami of up to 3 feet, but it was cancelled just over an hour later. The public broadcaster NHK said there were no initial reports of damage.

The epicenter of the magnitude 6.8 quake was at a shallow point near the Yonaguni islands, the agency said. It said no tsunami was detected.

Television footage of the area showed calm seas, but as a precaution school children in some low-lying areas of islands in the area were evacuated to safer locations.

In Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, CCTV footage from a television broadcaster, TBS, showed signs and lights swinging from the ceiling of a newsroom, and some residents rushing into the streets after the quake struck.