WASHINGTON

A powerful earthquake struck western Japan on Tuesday, though no tsunami warning was issued, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

The quake hit the eastern part of Shimane province at 10.18 am local time (01:18 GMT) at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to Kyodo News citing the JMA.

The JMA revised the preliminary magnitude from 6.2 to 6.4.

However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 5.8-magnitude earthquake south-southeast of Yasugicho, Japan.

Aftershocks of lower magnitude were also recorded in the region.

“There is precedent in the area around this epicenter where quakes of a similar scale have occurred in succession after a major quake,” said Ayataka Ebita, chief of JMA’s Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division.

No casualties have been reported so far, and no abnormalities were detected at the Shimane nuclear power plant in Matsue, the operator Chugoku Electric Power Co. said.

Authorities halted bullet train services in western Japan due to a power outage, suspending operations of the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Okayama and Hiroshima stations.

Road travel was also affected, with sections of the Yonago Expressway (Hiruzen–Yonago) and Sanin Expressway (Yonago-Nishi–Yasugi) temporarily closed due to the earthquake.

A liaison office was set up at the prime minister’s office, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assuring the public that her government will do everything possible to respond to the situation.

*Islamuddin Sajid contributed to this story