Earthquake injures seven and cuts off power to tens of thousands

Japan: Meteorological agency reveals there is ‘no danger of a tsunami’

A powerful earthquake with a suspected magnitude of 6.6 has shaken western Japan, injuring seven people – one seriously.

The Meteorological Agency said the earthquake occurred yesterday at 2.10pm (0510 GMT) in Japan's western prefecture of Tottori, about 430miles west of Tokyo, at a depth of six miles underground.

The epicentre of the quake was at a relatively shallow depth of seven miles below the surface. Shallow quakes potentially cause more damage but most of yesterday's damage appears to be minor or localised. The agency said there was no danger of a tsunami.

The operator of the highways said the roads had been closed for safety inspection, but no damage has been recorded.

Aid groups were standing by to offer material support if needed. “We're hearing reports of homes suffering damage, several major highways have been closed off while the authorities assess their safety and tens of thousands of people are left without power," said Kunio Senga, CEO of Save the Children Japan.

“We know children are always among the most vulnerable in disasters like this, so we're monitoring how we can support them in the recovery process."

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of possible strong aftershocks in the next couple of days.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK said a woman cooking in a restaurant was taken to a hospital after she was splashed with oil.

“It shook violently and filing cabinets fell down, but luckily nobody was injured in this office," said Koji Nakahara, a town hall official in coastal Hokuei.

Suminori Sakinada, a local government official, said: “We felt fairly strong jolts, whichI thinkwerethe biggest in years, but we have not seen any damage or things falling."

Bullet train services have been suspended in the area and nearly 40,000 homes were believed to be temporarily left without power as the quake knocked out power lines. NHK said nuclear reactors in the region were not affected.

Japan sits on the edge of four tectonic plates so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are commonplace but strict building regulations mean strong tremors rarely do damage to modern buildings.

But the quake comes five and a half years since a 9.0 undersea earthquake caused a tsunami, a meltdown at the Fukushima power plant and resulted in the deaths of more than 18,000 people.

The then-prime minister Naoto Kan called the crisis the “most difficult in the 65 years since the end of the World War II".

“We know children are always the most vulnerable in disasters”

DAMAGE: Roof tiles fallen from a house lie scattered following the earthquake

Debris from the damaged wall of a building