Government says no early reports of damage after 5.9 quake hits western Japan

Government says no early reports of damage after 5.9 quake hits western Japan

By Kaori Kaneko

Smoke arise from a house where a fire breaks out, in Takatsuki, Osaka prefecture, western Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo June 18, 2018. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS 

TOKYO (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 hit western Japan on Monday but the top government spokesman said there were no immediate signs of major damage.

The epicentre of the earthquake was in the northern part of Osaka Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, and no tsunami warning was issued.

Kansai Electric Power said no irregularities had been detected at the Mihama, Takahama and Ohi nuclear plants after the quake.

It also said there were more than 170,000 households without power in Osaka and neighbouring Hyogo Prefecture.

Trains in the area were halted as a precaution, public broadcaster NHK said.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Osamu Tsukimori; Writing by William Mallard; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-18