An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.6 hit western Japan on Wednesday night. Officials say there is no tsunami threat. The quake struck at around 11:14 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Meteorological Agency says the epicenter was Bungo Suido channel, and the focus was 39 kilometers deep. Agency officials say the tremor measured an intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of zero to 7 in parts of Ehime and Kochi prefectures, and lower 5 in parts of Oita Prefecture.
The Meteorological Agency says that this is the first time since 1996, when the current seismic intensity scale was introduced, that a quake with an intensity of lower 6 or higher has hit Ehime and Kochi prefectures.
Tremors of 1 through 4 were detected in wide areas in the Shikoku, Kyushu and Chugoku regions.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio instructed officials to grasp the extent of damage as soon as possible.
He also called on officials to work closely with local governments to take all-out measures to rescue people and provide information on evacuation and damage in a timely manner.
Satake Kenji of the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute said that the temblor is believed to have occurred inside the Philippine Sea Plate.
He said there is a possibility that a landslide has occurred. He said that it is possible that quakes of the same intensity will continue for about a week and called on people to be on the alert.
The fire department of Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture says several residents were hospitalized. It says some people startled by the quake fell over. It has no detailed information about any injuries they suffered.
An official of Seiyo City in the prefecture says strong and scary back-and-forth shaking continued for about 30 seconds.
A police officer in Uwajima City says there was a report that rocks had fallen on roads. The officer went to the site and said no major traffic problems are expected.
Uwajima City says its officials received reports from residents that water pipes burst in some areas of the city.
A man working for Sukumo city hall in Kochi Prefecture said when he was about to sleep on the second floor of his house, he felt a strong tremor for about 10 seconds.
He said pipes burst outside his home and were gushing water.
An employee of a convenience store in front of Sukumo Station said strong horizontal shaking continued for about 10 seconds, and some products fell off shelves.