6.4 quake strikes southwest Japan (photos, videos)

RT
Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:48 UTC

© earthquake.usgs.gov

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck east of Kumamoto, Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The quake hit at 9:26 p.m. local time (12:26 GMT), eight kilometers (4.97 miles) from the city of Tamana.

La classique scène de la pancarte d'un bureau de chaîne télé qui vibre. #Kumamoto pic.twitter.com/jiAwfUmqEp

— Thomas Bertrand (@ThomasKyoto) April 14, 2016

The earthquake left behind damage to buildings, as well as a fire.

Keisukei Urata, an official in Uki, told AP that he saw walls around houses collapsing.

"Papers, files, flower vases and everything fell on the floor," Kasumi Nakamura, an official in the village of Nishihara, located near the epicenter, told NHK.

The situation at the apartment building of a friend in #Kumamoto after M6.4 quake. pic.twitter.com/XHmA9wR9kB

— Kjeld Duits (@KjeldDuits) April 14, 2016

He said the rattling started small but then grew violent, lasting about 30 seconds, adding that there were aftershocks.

One aftershock measuring 5.7 struck about 40 minutes after the quake, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

熊本県のスーパーがヤバイ pic.twitter.com/AcGXqSiNZQ

— アリエッティ@EARTH.福岡3日5日 (@m_s_k_h) April 14, 2016

The US Geological Survey (USGS) put the quake at a 6.0 magnitude.

震度7の地震があった熊本市内のブックオフの様子 pic.twitter.com/OtkJfCfkE1

— かいざー (@MECCYAEEYA) April 14, 2016

The Japan Meteorological Agency originally issued a tsunami warning, but later canceled it.