“A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 struck southern Japan early today, barely 24 hours after a smaller quake hit the same region and killed nine people.
“While it was not immediately clear whether the latest quake increased the death toll, authorities said hundreds of calls had come in from residents reporting people trapped inside houses and buildings.
“The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 66 people were trapped inside a nursing home in Mashiki, the hardest-hit town, and rescue efforts were under way.
“No other details were immediately available.
“More than 400 people were treated at hospitals, but most of their injuries were not life-threatening, the Japanese broadcaster NHK said, citing its own tally.
“Video showed a resident, apparently rescued from underneath a collapsed house, on a stretcher being taken to a hospital by ambulance.”
Read more at The Australian
