Great earthquake in Japan: 9 dead, nearly 900 injured

At least 9 people were killed, nearly 900 were injured and tens of thousands were evacuated after an earthquake with an intensity of about 6.4 Richter occurred on April 14 in the eastern city of Kumamoto, Japan, according to Japan Times.

RT reported that the magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurred at 21:20 on May 15 (local time), about 11 km from Kumamoto to the east. Epicenter at a depth of about 10km.

People are evacuated from the scene.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, about 40 minutes after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake, an aftershock with a magnitude of 5.7 Richter happened. The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 5.9-magnitude earthquake that continued to occur several hours later.

Kasumi Nakamura, a resident, said that she shakes slightly and strengthens and lasts about 30 seconds. Mashiko Village is in the epicenter so it is the most damaged with more than 20 buildings destroyed and many fires erupting.

Rescue force arrived at the scene to support.

"There was a loud noise and the whole house shook violently" - Takahiko Morita, a resident of Mashiko, said. "Furniture and bookshelves fell, books splashed on the floor."

Books are sprawling.

Both bottles in supermarkets, grocery stores.

The quake left at least 9 people dead, nearly 900 injured, of which 400 were being treated at the hospital, according to Japanese television station NHK. About 16,500 households lose power and 38,000 houses have no gas supply, according to Reuters. About 44,400 people were evacuated by 5 am April 15, according to Japan Times.

Japanese officials confirmed that the three southernmost nuclear plants in Kyushu and near Shikoki remained stable.

A corner of the building was damaged.

Japan Times quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying the government had mobilized police, firefighters and defense forces to assist the scene. According to RT, there are about 400 soldiers. He said the government will do its best to support the victims. The Japanese national police said that a total of 1,084 officials from 19 provinces and cities had arrived at the disaster scene.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning but later canceled the warning.