Moderate earthquake reported from southern Japan; tsunami ruled out

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 hit southern Japan on Thursday but no tsunami warning was issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, and there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake, which struck at 6:10 p.m. (0910 GMT), was centred in Kumamoto prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), JMA said.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that nuclear power facilities in the region were operating as normal. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. Japan accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.