6.6-magnitude earthquake hits Japan
A powerful earthquake with a suspected magnitude of 6.6 has shaken western Japan, The Independent reported.
The newspaper refers to the Meteorological Agency that said the earthquake occurred Friday at 2:10 p.m. (0510 GMT) in Japan's western prefecture of Tottori, about 700 kilometers (430 miles) west of Tokyo, at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) underground.
According to preliminary data there was no danger of a tsunami from the inland temblor.
Public broadcaster NHK quoted local officials as saying they had received reports that a house collapsed in the town of Yurihama, while fires broke out in another part of the prefecture, without giving details. In Kurayoshi City, the fire department reported receiving seven emergency calls for injuries.
Bullet train services were suspended in the area, while nearly 40,000 homes were left without electricity as the quake damaged power lines, officials said.