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Powerful Earthquake Hits Japan, Destroying at Least 19 Homes

earthquake
An area of Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, in southwestern Japan in 2013 / Kyodo via AP
April 14, 2016

A strong earthquake hit southern Japan Thursday evening, toppling at least 19 houses and potentially trapping individuals under the rubble.

The Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital told ABC News it admitted 45 injured people. Five had serious wounds. Police have not yet confirmed casualties.

The quake was measured at a preliminary magnitude of 6.4, the strongest earthquake to hit the are since 2011. No tsunami warning was issued.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told ABC that the extent of the earthquake’s damage is still unclear "because of the night darkness."

"There was a ka-boom and the whole house shook violently sideways," Takahiko Morita, a Mashiki resident, said in a phone interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK. "Furniture and bookshelves fell down, and books were all over the floor."

Local media reported that violent shaking at the epicenter lasted roughly 30 seconds.

Published under: Japan