At least one person was killed when a strong earthquake jolted Sea of Japan coast area of central Japan's Hokuriku region on Sunday morning.

The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 hit at 9:42 a.m. local time (0042 GMT), said Japan Meteorological Agency. It also observed waves of up to 20 centimeters in Ishikawa Prefecture after issuing on its website a tsunami warning for the area.

A 52-year-old woman in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, died from being buried under a stone lantern that collapsed in her home's garden, Kyodo News reported, quoting local police.

The quake also caused landslides in Ishikawa Prefecture and injuries across a wider area. Two persons in the Toyama Prefecture received treatment at hospitals, and people who suffered burns and other injuries in Ishikawa Prefecture made numerous calls for ambulances, local firefighters were quoted as saying.

The epicenter of the quake was some 40 kilometers west- southwest of Wajima in the sea off Noto Peninsula and about 50 kilometers underground.

While West Japan Railway Co. suspended all its train services in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Kansai Electric Power Co. said nuclear power plants are operating normally in Niigata and Fukui prefectures, Kyodo News reported.

A liaison office has been set up at the prime minister's official residence to deal with the aftermath of the quake.