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Japan earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hits southern part of the country Japan earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hits southern part of the country
(35 minutes later)
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 has struck southern Japan A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 has struck southern Japan.
According to Japan's Meteorological Agency, the quake hit at 9:26 pm and was centered in the Mashiki town in the Kumamoto prefecture.  According to Japan's Meteorological Agency, the 'quake hit at 9.26 pm and was centered in the Mashiki town in the Kumamoto prefecture. 
The agency said there's no danger of a tsunami and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.  The agency said there's no danger of a tsunami and there were no immediate reports of casualties.
However, some buildings have collapsed and others damaged, according to Japan's chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga and reports.
Images, not verified by The Independent, have been posted to social media showing some of the damage:
Images of fires, seemingly taken from Japanese television, have also been posted to Twitter:
Kasumi Nakamura, an official in the village of Nishihara near the epicenter, said there was a rattling which started modestly and grew violent, lasting about 30 seconds. 
"Papers, files, flower vases and everything fell on the floor," he said in a telephone interview with local media. He also said there were aftershocks. 
Other eyewitnesses reported seeing walls around houses collapsing and in the city of Uki, where the city hall reportedly suffered broken windows and fallen cabinets.
Footage on Japan's NHK national television showed a signboard hanging from the ceiling at its local bureau violently shaking. Footage on Japan's NHK national television showed a signboard hanging from the ceiling at its local bureau violently shaking. 
Kasumi Nakamura, an official in the village of Nishihara near the epicenter, said that the rattling started modestly and grew violent, lasting about 30 seconds.  Some train services have been suspended as officials attempt to gather information.
"Papers, files, flower vases and everything fell on the floor," he told a telephone interview with NHK. He said there were aftershocks.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We intend to do the utmost to grasp the situation. I'm now planning to hear what we have gathered on the situation."
The extent of the damage is not immediately known.  The full extent of the damage is not currently known. 
The U.S. Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 6 and said the quake was 23 kilometers (14 miles) deep The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep.
This is a breaking storyThis is a breaking story
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