TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- A massive earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on early Friday afternoon, seismologists said, prompting tsunami warnings for multiple countries.
The 7.9-magnitude earthquake at 2.46 p.m. local time (0546 GMT) was centered about 179 kilometers (111 miles) east of Sendai in Japan. It struck about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
JMA issued a tsunami warning, saying a major tsunami could strike parts of the Pacific coast. A tsunami warning is also issued for Russia, the Marcus Islands and Northern Marianas. Meanwhile, tsunami watches have been issued for Guam, Wake Island, Taiwan, Yap, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Belau, Midway Island, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and Hawaii.