TOKYO, March 14, 2011 (AFP) - A tsunami alert was lifted in Japan Monday, a Fukushima prefecture official said, after reports of an approaching large wave and retreating seawater -- a phenomenon that occurs before tsunamis -- had sparked alarm and local evacuation orders.

An official with the Fukushima Prefectural Natural Disaster Office told AFP: "There is no more fear of a tsunami at this moment, but we will continue to ask our residents to remain vigilant to future advisories."