BreakingStrong 6.3-magnitude quake hits off southern Japan

A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s southern Kyushu island today, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The epicentre of the quake -- which struck at 1:06 am (Hong Kong time) -- was located 13 kilometres (eight miles) north of the city of Kunisaki-shi, USGS said. The quake hit at a depth of 82 kilometres.

There was no tsunami alert issued, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said as cited by Kyodo News, nor any immediate news of fatalities or damage.

Local authorities reported some minor injuries as people sought refuge following the quake, Kyodo said.

The quake, which the Japanese meteorological agency measured as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.1, registered a strong intensity in parts of Japan’s Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu islands, Kyodo reported.

There were no abnormalities detected at Ikata nuclear plant in Ehime prefecture or at Shimane plant in Shimane prefecture, the news agency said.