26 injured in Japan earthquake; landslides, power outages in some areas

TOKYO: At least 26 people were injured after an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale struck Japan's northwestern region, causing landslides and power outages in some areas, authorities said on Wednesday.

Seventeen people were injured in Yamagata prefecture, four each in Niigata and Miyagi prefectures, and one in Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the Kyodo News Agency. There were no reports of missing people, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned of potential collapses of buildings and more landslides as there is a chance of more quakes of similar levels hitting Yamagata and Niigata prefectures facing the Sea of Japan over the following week while rain is expected in parts of the region on Wednesday.

The earthquake occurred at 10.22 p.m. on Tuesday at a depth of about 14 km, with its epicentre located off Yamagata, according to the meteorological agency. A tsunami warning was issued but lifted hours later. A 10 cm tsunami was observed in the city of Niigata with smaller ones in other locations including Sakata and Wajima.

Multiple landslides occurred in Tsuruoka, according to the Yamagata prefectural government. Some vehicles were trapped in mud as the temblor caused soil liquefaction in parts of Tsuruoka, and the roof over a sumo ring at an elementary school in the city collapsed, according to the local governments.

Over 9,200 houses in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures were hit by power outages but electricity services were restored by 6.44 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Tohoku Electric Power Co. East Japan Railway Co. said the quake caused some delays to its bullet train services Tuesday, affecting around 10,000 people. It began Wednesday's services normally.