Strong earthquake in Japan leaves nine with minor injuries, but no tsunami

Police officers clean debris from an earthquake in Uwajima, western Japan (AP)

A strong earthquake that struck southwestern Japan left nine people with minor injuries and caused damages such as burst water pipes and small landslides, authorities said, but there was no danger of a tsunami.

The magnitude 6.6 quake on Wednesday was centered just off the western coast of the southwestern main island of Shikoku, in an area called the Bungo Channel – a strait separating Shikoku and the southern main island of Kyushu.