Society

Earthquake rattles parts of Kyushu; no damage reported

Jan 03 (Japan Today) - An earthquake shook southwestern Japan on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of damage and a tsunami watch was lifted within an hour.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake, which struck at 6:10 p.m., measured a preliminary magnitude 5.0, rattling the Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kumamoto areas in the southwest of the main island of Kyushu.

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said an emergency team was set up to check on any damage.

The two nuclear plants in the area had been confirmed as operating regularly, but Kumamoto airport was temporarily shut down and bullet train services were halted, Suga told reporters. After quakes, tracks and runways are checked for safety.

National broadcaster NHK TV warned people to stay calm and watch against dangers such as shaking, mudslides and items falling from shelves, as well as aftershocks.

TV news footage showed that traffic lights and other lights the buildings were working, and pedestrians on city streets were walking about as usual.

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