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5th LD Writethru: 1 feared dead, over 100 hospitalized after strong quakes jolt SW Japan

Xinhua, April 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

One person feared dead and over 100 others were taken to hospitals after strong quakes jolted Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 9:26 p.m. local time Thursday, said local reports, adding over 10 buildings collapsed.

An early report said that an individual suffered injure on head and lost consciousness. Several people who were trapped under the rubbles were rescued, local reports said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) revised the first quake from 6.4 magnitude to 6.5. The quake was logged at level 7 of the Japan seismic intensity scale of 7 in Mashiki town at the Kumamoto Prefecture, marking the first since the devastating earthquake in March 2011.

The epicenter of the 6.5 magnitude quake was detected at 32.7 degree north latitude and 130.8 degree longitude with a depth of 10 km.

Strong aftershocks, including one measured at 5.7 magnitude at around 10:07 p.m. Thursday and 6.4 magnitude at 0:08 Friday, are continuing jolting the area after the 6.5 magnitude quake, said the JMA, adding the quakes triggered no tsunami.

No abnormalities were found in the Sendai nuclear power plant, the only operating nuclear facility in the area, said local reports, adding the quake did not affect volcanic activities at Mount. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture.

According to footage from the public broadcaster NHK, many people came out from their houses staying at streets at Mashiki town and Kumamoto city. Concrete pieces fell down from buildings in Kumamoto city and over 10 buildings in the Mashiki town collapsed and damaged with people being trapped in the crippled buildings.

Local reports also said that a fire broke out in the Mashiki town which locates near the epicenter. Strong tremor of the 6.5 magnitude quake lasted about 30 seconds and Shinkansen bullet train services were suspended by the strong quake.

The quake also triggered blackout in the region affecting about 16,000 households. Traffic is stopped on some expressways in Kumamoto and Miyazaki Prefectures, said local reports.

The Japanese government has set up a special group to gather information on injuries and damage, said top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga. He also called on affected people to remain calm and help each other.

Local media urged local people to keep vigilant over aftershocks. Enditem