At least 17 injured after 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Japan
A 6.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off southern Japan, injuring at least 17 people.
The epicentre of the quake was located eight miles north of the city of Kunisaki, said the US Geological Survey, and it hit at a depth of 50 miles.
It struck at 2.06am between three of Japan's four main islands and nearest to the northern coast of the island of Kyushu
According to the Daily Telegraph, Director of Japan's Meteorological Agency's earthquake and tsunami observation division, Yohei Hasegawa, said the were no tsunami warnings but added: "We fear the danger of rockfalls and landslides has increased."
Parts of southwestern Shikoku, the main island of Honshu, and southern Kyushu islands registered the strongest intensity with building damage and injuries, but none life-threatening.
The Bellingham Herald reports that people were knocked out of their beds, and water pipes burst.
Back in March 2011, 18,000 people died when a 9-magnitude undersea earthquake sent a huge tsunami into Japan's northeast coast.
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