TOKYO, Japan: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Thursday, injuring eight people, but there did not appear to be any serious damage or a tsunami.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 11:14 p.m. Wednesday (1414 GMT), was between islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.
1500 earthquakes occur in Japan every year. Most earthquakes are mild, and even larger earthquakes usually cause little damage.
Japan’s nuclear regulatory agency announced that the Ikata power plant in the area was operating normally.
No anomalies have been detected at the Ikata plant and operations are continuing, it said.
Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that no tsunami warnings or anomalies had been reported at the plant, and said officials were investigating what other damage may have occurred.
There were no direct reports of casualties from the earthquake, but local government and media reported at least eight minor injuries.
Oita prefecture said two elderly people suffered minor injuries after the fall, and local media reported six others suffered minor injuries in the Ehime region.
Police and disaster prevention officials in Ehime province could not immediately confirm the reports, but said they would release relevant information soon.
Local television reported that public water pipes had burst in more than a dozen places in Uwajima city.
At least one road was closed due to a landslide in Ozu city in Ehime, and some roads were closed in Uwajima City due to falling rocks.
The earthquake shocked the residents of the area late at night.
