A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck off southern Japan injuring 17 people, reports say, as officials warned residents to be alert to the danger of landslides following the tremor.
There was no tsunami warning or reports of major damage.
Public broadcaster NHK says 17 people were injured. but no one has been killed by the tumbler.
The US Geological Survey says the epicentre of the quake – which struck early this morning – was located 13 kilometres north of the city of Kunisaki at a depth of about 82 kilometres.
