A powerful earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.6, struck northern Japan approximately 45 miles west of Misawa at around 11:15 p.m. local time. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake's epicenter was located approximately 33 miles beneath the Earth's surface. This seismic event triggered immediate tsunami warnings for coastal regions of Honshu and Hokkaido, with initial forecasts anticipating waves as high as 9 feet. Smaller tsunami waves have already been observed along the coastline.