Strong Quake Hits Southwestern Japan

(Adnkronos) – Tokyo, Sept. 17 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Wednesday night, measuring lower 5, the fifth-highest level on the nation’s seismic intensity scale, in Suwanosejima, an island in the village of Toshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. The temblor, with an estimated magnitude of 4.7, occurred at a depth of 1 kilometer off the Tokara Islands, which comprise the village, around 9:55 p.m., the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Suwanosejima is one of the islands. Toshima was jolted by another quake, which registered 4 on the seismic scale, around 10 p.m., according to the agency. Temblors measuring 3 were also felt in the island village. No major damage from the quakes has been confirmed, according to the village office. A string of earthquakes began to hit Toshima June 21. On July 3, a quake measuring lower 6, the third-highest level on the scale, rocked Akusekijima, another island in the Tokara chain. Following the series of earthquakes, a total of about 70 people from Akusekijima and Kodakarajima, also an island in the chain, temporarily evacuated to locations including the city of Kagoshima, the capital of the prefecture. It was the first time since July 7 that a quake of lower 5 or higher has hit the village. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]