Magnitude-7.2 quake rattles Japan, no casualties reported yet

Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan was hit again by a magnitude-7.2 earthquake on Saturday at 1:25 local time.

The temblor was also felt across wide swathes of southern Japan and triggering a tsunami warning.

No casualties have so far been reported.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the latest quake followed hundreds of aftershocks in the wake of quakes striking overnight a day earlier and claiming nine lives and injuring more than 1,000.

The quake struck at a latitude of 32.8 degrees north and longitude of 130.8 degrees east.

As with the previous major quake, the epicenter was relatively shallow at a depth of just 10 km.

The United States Geological Survey earlier measured the quake at 7.2.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 32.8 degrees north latitude and 130.8 degrees east longitude.

Xinhua's reporters in Mashiki town of Kumamoto Prefecture witnessed the panic caused by the quake.

Aftershocks have been continuing and the town was in blackout.

Recidents have been rushing out of buildings, some of whom took shelter in vehicles.

Source: XINHUA