A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, prompting tsunami warnings.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the earthquake was recorded near the Aomori and Hokkaido regions.
According to the agency, potential tsunami waves could reach up to 3 meters on the country's northeastern coast.
The United States Geological Survey confirmed the quake had a magnitude of 7.6. An earthquake of this magnitude is relatively rare and can cause serious damage, including infrastructure destruction and risk to human life.
The earthquake struck large parts of northern and eastern Japan at 11:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. UK time). The epicenter was 80 km off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, at a depth of 50 km.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for the northern prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate. Authorities urged residents to stay informed and follow safety instructions.
