6.6-magnitude quake hits Japan; little damage reported

KURAYOSHI , Japan, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A suspected 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook western Japan's Tottori prefecture Friday afternoon, causing some injuries and property damage, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The temblor struck near the city of Kurayoshi, west of Osaka, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

At least 10 injuries were reported, fire officials said, and some buildings were damaged. The earthquake temporarily disrupted highway travel, bullet train service and airport schedules, and nearly 80,000 homes endured a temporary power blackout. No injuries were reported at the region's nuclear power plants, which were automatically powered down, and no tsunami warning was announced.

Kunio Senga of Save the Children Japan said, "We're hearing reports of homes suffering damage, several major highways have been closed off while the authorities assess their safety and tens of thousands of people have been left without power," CNN reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong aftershocks could occur within the next week. It noted the earthquake occurred Friday at 2:10 p.m., inland and about 430 miles west of Tokyo, at an underground depth of about 6 miles. Japan is on the edge of four tectonic plates, known as the "Ring of Fire," where earthquakes are common, but strict building regulations reduce the possibility of damage to structures.