Strong Quake Hits Japan Southern Coast, Tsunami Warning Issued

An earthquake measuring 6.9 on Richter scale hit off Japan’s southern coast early in the morning, trembling Okinawa and close-by islands, where a tsunami warning was issued, reported Associated Press citing Japan’s Meteorological Agency.

According to report, quake hit the coast of the island of Okinawa at a depth of 10 kms at 5:31 am on Saturday.

The Meteorological Agency forecast a tsunami up to two metres near the Okinawa coast, said report.

AP reported that there were no reports of major damage of casualties.

“I was fast asleep when the quake hit, and I jumped out of bed. It felt like the shaking lasted forever,” Ryota Ueno, a town official in the Nishihara district of Okinawa, was quoted as saying.

There was no major damage in his house, and he then rushed to the town office to meet up with his colleagues and stand by in case of reports of damage from residents, Ueno told a telephone interview with public broadcaster NHK, according to AP.

Report said that only one resident reported rupture of water pipe and no other damage were reported as yet.