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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, causing collapsed buildings. | |
| According to Japan's Meteorological Agency, the quake hit at 9.26 pm and was centered in the Mashiki town in the Kumamoto prefecture. | |
| There were no immediate reports of casualties but some people are feared trapped under the fallen structures. | |
| Other properties have been damaged, according to Japan's chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga. | |
| Officials have said there is no danger of a tsunami and confirmed the region's nuclear facilities have not been adversely affected by the tremors. | |
| However, some power outages and water cuts have been reported in areas close to the epicenter. | |
| Images, not verified by The Independent, have been posted to social media apparently showing some of the damage: | |
| Images of fires, seemingly taken from Japanese television, have also been posted to Twitter: | Images of fires, seemingly taken from Japanese television, have also been posted to Twitter: |
| "There was a ka-boom and the whole house violently shook sideways," said Takahiko Morita, a Mashiki resident, in an interview with Japan's NHK television. | |
| "Furniture and bookshelves fell down, books were all over the floor." | |
| Kasumi Nakamura, an official in the village of Nishihara close to 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 NHK. He also said he felt 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. | 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 NHK TV showed a signboard hanging from the ceiling at its local bureau violently shaking. | |
| Some train services have been suspended as officials attempt to gather information. | Some train services have been suspended as officials attempt to gather information. |
| 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." | 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 full extent of the damage is not currently known. | The full extent of the damage is not currently known. |
| The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep. | The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep. |
| This is a breaking story | This is a breaking story |
| AP | AP |