6.2 Earthquake Hits Western Japan

Above, the location of the epicenter. USGS map.

Residents of western Japan received a rude early morning wake-up when an earthquake measuring M6.2 stuck at 2:07 a.m.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 struck a swath of western Japan early Friday morning, registering a strong intensity in parts of Shikoku, Honshu and Kyushu islands but no tsunami was observed, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. 

A total of 14 people were hurt in Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kochi and Oita prefectures after the 2:07 a.m. quake, according to local firefighters. All are believed to have sustained minor injuries. 

Shikoku Electric Power Co. said no abnormality was detected in measuring instrument data at its Ikata nuclear power plant in Ikata, Ehime Prefecture, where lower-5 was registered on the Japanese seismic scale of 7. 

The earthquake originated around 78 kilometers underground in Iyonada inland sea sandwiched by three of Japan's largest islands -- Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.

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