ADVERTISEMENTAn earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 rocked Japan on Saturday, injuring dozens and destroying homes with many trapped inside.
Images which emerged overnight showed the extent of the damage in the village of Hakuba, host to the 1998 Winter Olympics. More than 30 houses collapsed and at least 20 people had to be rescued from the ruins.
30 Hurt After Earthquake Strikes Japan Saturday Destroying Dozens of Homes http://t.co/4e8IPvRHKc –
JimDalrympleII</a> <a href="http://t.co/IotteQWWYn">pic.twitter.com/IotteQWWYn</a></p>— Nancy Hennen (tweetbrk) November 23, 2014
Damage reported as strong quake strikes central Japan: http://t.co/xgKcAAsQO2pic.twitter.com/w0qM2DTIIc
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) November 22, 2014
Authorities are reporting up to 40 injured and a total of 37 houses destroyed in the region.
The quake struck just after 10pm local time west of Nagano and was followed by 45 aftershocks. The tremors could felt in Tokyo 180kms away.
Since the quake occurred inland, no tsunami warning was issued.
M6.8-quake hits Nagano, central Japan, past 10 pm Saturday, flattening 7 houses, injuring 57. http://t.co/AFzvHSuWFcpic.twitter.com/1nUh8aYS5P
— Mitsuru Obe (@mit_obe) November 23, 2014
Authorities reported no signs of irregularities at a nearby nuclear power plant. All reactors remain offline since the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan in 2011 that sent the Fukushima plant’s reactors into meltdown.