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Deadly earthquake topples buildings in southern Japan | Deadly earthquake topples buildings in southern Japan |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least nine people have died and more than 250 are injured after a powerful earthquake hit southern Japan, toppling buildings and cutting power supplies. | At least nine people have died and more than 250 are injured after a powerful earthquake hit southern Japan, toppling buildings and cutting power supplies. |
Officials say more people could be trapped under collapsed buildings. | Officials say more people could be trapped under collapsed buildings. |
Thousands fled their homes and many people spent the night in the open in the town of Mashiki, near Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu. | Thousands fled their homes and many people spent the night in the open in the town of Mashiki, near Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu. |
Troops have been sent to the scene but rescue operations are being disrupted by aftershocks, officials said. | Troops have been sent to the scene but rescue operations are being disrupted by aftershocks, officials said. |
In pictures: Mashiki evacuees huddled in the streets | |
No tsunami warning was issued after the magnitude 6.4 quake struck at 21:26 on Thursday (12:26 GMT) east of Kumamoto. | No tsunami warning was issued after the magnitude 6.4 quake struck at 21:26 on Thursday (12:26 GMT) east of Kumamoto. |
Nuclear reactors on the island are not reported to have been affected. | Nuclear reactors on the island are not reported to have been affected. |
The two Sendai nuclear reactors on Kyushu were operating as normal while the three Genkai nuclear reactors still in operation were already closed for routine inspection. | The two Sendai nuclear reactors on Kyushu were operating as normal while the three Genkai nuclear reactors still in operation were already closed for routine inspection. |
The quake struck at a depth of 10km (six miles) and was followed by aftershocks measuring 5.7 about 40 minutes later and 6.4 just after midnight local time. | The quake struck at a depth of 10km (six miles) and was followed by aftershocks measuring 5.7 about 40 minutes later and 6.4 just after midnight local time. |
But Japan's seismology office recorded the shaking at some places to be as intense as the huge magnitude nine earthquake that hit the country in 2011. | But Japan's seismology office recorded the shaking at some places to be as intense as the huge magnitude nine earthquake that hit the country in 2011. |
That triggered a tsunami in a double disaster that left more than 18,000 people dead or missing and led to meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. | That triggered a tsunami in a double disaster that left more than 18,000 people dead or missing and led to meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. |
"The shaking was so violent I couldn't stand still," Hironobu Kosaki, a local police official, told the Associated Press news agency. | "The shaking was so violent I couldn't stand still," Hironobu Kosaki, a local police official, told the Associated Press news agency. |
Initial reports said two people had died but the toll rose to nine as rescue teams worked through the night. | Initial reports said two people had died but the toll rose to nine as rescue teams worked through the night. |
Yasuhiro Soshino, of the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, told BBC World News on Friday morning that they had received 254 injured people including 15 severe cases. | Yasuhiro Soshino, of the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, told BBC World News on Friday morning that they had received 254 injured people including 15 severe cases. |
"Red Cross medical teams in other areas are also gathering at our Red Cross hospital," he said. | "Red Cross medical teams in other areas are also gathering at our Red Cross hospital," he said. |
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at least 19 houses had collapsed and officials were still assessing the extent of the damage. | Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at least 19 houses had collapsed and officials were still assessing the extent of the damage. |
About 16,000 homes were left without electricity and 38,000 without gas, reports say. | About 16,000 homes were left without electricity and 38,000 without gas, reports say. |
At least two deaths occurred in Mashiki, where the shaking was most severe. The town lies 15km (nine miles) east of Kumamoto. | At least two deaths occurred in Mashiki, where the shaking was most severe. The town lies 15km (nine miles) east of Kumamoto. |
One victim died after being pulled from the rubble and another was killed in a fire, Kumamoto prefecture disaster management official Takayuki Matsushita was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | One victim died after being pulled from the rubble and another was killed in a fire, Kumamoto prefecture disaster management official Takayuki Matsushita was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
Mashiki residents said houses and walls had collapsed and the water supply had been cut off. | Mashiki residents said houses and walls had collapsed and the water supply had been cut off. |
An official in the nearby city of Uki said houses there had also collapsed as well as part of the city hall's ceiling. | An official in the nearby city of Uki said houses there had also collapsed as well as part of the city hall's ceiling. |
The BBC's Japan Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says the quake took place at a time when most people were at home. | The BBC's Japan Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says the quake took place at a time when most people were at home. |
Some train services were suspended as a precautionary measure. | Some train services were suspended as a precautionary measure. |
Japan is regularly struck by earthquakes but stringent building codes mean that damage usually does not occur. | Japan is regularly struck by earthquakes but stringent building codes mean that damage usually does not occur. |