Strong quake hits off Japan, injures 17

A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off southern Japan early Friday injuring 17 people, reports said 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 said 17 people were injured. None of the injuries seemed to be life-threatening. The epicentre of the quake -- which struck at 2:06 am (1706 GMT Thursday) -- was located 13 kilometres (eight miles) north of the city of Kunisaki, the US Geological Survey said. The quake hit at a depth of 82 kilometres. Japan's Meteorological Agency said there was no risk of a tsunami but urged residents to stay on alert. "We fear the danger of rockfalls and landslides has increased" in areas that felt strong tremors, Yohei Hasegawa, director of the agency's earthquake and tsunami observation division, told a news conference, according to AFP.