Japan has been rocked by yet another earthquake, the second such quake in two days in the archipelago. The earthquake on Friday measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake is a matter of particular concern as it has occured at a shallow depth, of merely 10 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued an advisory for a tsunami up to 1 meter (3 feet) along the coast east of the epicenter in Kumamoto. However, the tsunami warning was subsequently lifted.
The epicentre of the earthquake was 1 kilometre from the city of Kumamoto-shi, according to the US Geological Survey.
On Thursday, tens of thousands of people fled their homes after the 6.5-magnitude quake struck the southwestern island of Kyushu on Thursday night, leaving lumps of broken concrete strewn in the streets.
Houses collapsed, factories stopped work and a high-speed train was derailed, while the roof of the treasured Kumamoto castle in the southern city of the same name was also damaged.
Dozens of aftershocks followed the quake, which had hit about 9:26 pm (1226 GMT) on Thursday evening, and officials warned the death toll could rise as rescuers scoured the collapsed structures.
@ Agency report.
