Fresh quake, magnitude-5.4, strikes south Japan
Vehicles sit at a parking lot damaged by an earthquake at Minamiaso in Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan Saturday, April 16, 2016. A powerful earthquake struck southern Japan early Saturday, barely 24 hours after a smaller quake hit the same region. Muneyuki Tomari/Kyodo 黑料社 via AP
MASHIKI, Japan — A fresh earthquake measuring 5.4 has hit southern Kyushu island on Saturday morning, following a 7.3-magnitude quake that killed at least six people overnight.
Kumamoto Prefectural official Tomoyuki Tanaka says the death toll is still unclear, with the fire department reporting a higher number of at least seven.
More than 400 people are reported injured.
Japanese TV news footage showed collapsed and flattened houses, and said people are trapped in buildings.
The Japan Meteorological Agency gave a preliminary reading of magnitude-7.3 for the temblor that struck early Saturday. A magnitude-6.5 quake struck late Thursday, killing 10 people. Aftershocks are rattling various areas in Kyushu, one of Japan’s main four islands.
READ: 2nd strong quake hits southern Japan; some reported trapped
