A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit western Japan on Wednesday night. Officials say there was no tsunami. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa says several people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The quake struck at around 11:14 p.m. on Wednesday. The Meteorological Agency says the focus was 39 kilometers deep.
Agency officials say the tremor measured an intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of 0 to 7 in parts of Ehime and Kochi prefectures, and lower 5 in parts of Oita Prefecture.
The 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.
A Meteorological Agency official called on people to stay alert for more possible quakes for about a week.
The official says the earthquake occurred in the expected hypocenter area of the anticipated massive Nankai Trough earthquake, but with a magnitude of 6.6.
He says it was below the strength suggesting a link with the Nankai Trough quake.
Uwajima police say a man in his 90s who was frightened by the quake suffered an injury to his left hand when he ran out of his home. The police say he was taken to a hospital.
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.
Sukumo police say a utility pole fell down near Sukumo High School. They say there have no reports of injuries.
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.