A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake has hit off the coast northeast Japan approximately 80 miles east of Sendai and 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. The large earthquake, the largest in recorded Japanese history, has unleashed huge tsunamis along its Pacific coast causing flooding of the Sendai Airport and flight arrival diversions from both Tokyo’s Narita (NRT) Haneda (HND) airports. However both NRT and HND are permitting departures but arrivals are being still diverted. Surface transportation to both airports remains problematic as many trains and roadways are either closed or blocked.

The preliminary death toll has reached at least 32 people, including three in Tokyo. Other parts of the Pacific are on tsunamis watch.

Hawaii could be impacted around 3 a.m. local time.