M 6.6 quake hits western Japan, several injured

TOKYO, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale struck western Japan on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
No tsunami warning was issued for the 2:07 p.m. (0507 GMT) quake, the agency said. Several people were injured, according to public broadcaster NHK. Shinkansen bullet train service in the region was temporarily suspended.
There were no impacts on nuclear power plant in the region, plant operators said.
The focus of the temblor was 10 km underground in central Tottori Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, about 700 km west of Tokyo, the weather agency said. The quake registered lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Tottori Prefecture. The weather agency defines an intensity of lower 6 as strong enough to most heavy and unbolted furniture moves and falls. About 32,000 households in Tottori were without power.
The government established a task force at the prime minister's office to gather information about the quake damage. At a press conference in Tokyo, a weather agency official warned that quakes measuring up to lower 6 in intensity could occur in areas around the epicenter in the coming week. (end) mk.gta