日경찰 "강진으로 구마모토현에서 9명 사망 확인 760여명 부상"
Search operations for survivors are ongoing in Southern Japan, after a powerful earthquake brought down buildings and killed at least nine people.
Adding to their woes, experts warn more aftershocks and a magnitude 5 earthquake could rock Japan further within a week's time.
Park Jong-hong updates us on the situation in Kyushu.
Dramatic footage shows the aftermath of the quake that measured six-point-five on the Richter scale and the highest seven on the Japanese earthquake intensity scale.
The earthquake jolted Kumamoto at around 9:26 p.m. local time Thursday and was the strongest since the magnitude-nine earthquake in March 2011 that led to the Fukushima nuclear meltdown.
As of Friday morning, at least nine had been confirmed dead with more than 760 injured including 53 in critical condition.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that the highest priority is the safety of the residents and that every effort is being made on search and rescue operations.
Crews have been working overnight to save people who might be trapped under rubble but scores of aftershocks have been rattling the area, hampering those efforts.
The largest one shortly after midnight was measured at a preliminary magnitude of six-point-four.
Authorities say around 20 homes crumbled during the earthquake.
Thousands of homes remain without power and gas supplies have been cut off to prevent further damage.
Authorities say there's no risk to nuclear reactors as most of Japan's reactors remain offline following the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Japan's Meteorological Agency also said there was no tsunami risk and currently no tsunami warnings are in effect.
But they advise caution saying that aftershocks are expected to persist for about a week.
Park Jong-hong, Arirang News.
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