7.l-magnitude earthquake, small tsunamis hit southern Japan

No reports of abnormalities at nuclear power plants or infrastructure disruptions

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 shook southern Japan on Aug 8, but no major damage was reported and only relatively minor tsunami waves lashed the coast.

The quake hit at 4.42pm off Kyushu at a depth of 25km, the UnitStates Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The USGS had initially reported two strong quakes, with magnitudes of 6.9 and 7.1, but later said there had been only one tremor.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) also said there was one quake with a magnitude of 7.1.

Broadcaster NHK showed footage of traffic lights shaking violently in Miyazaki on Kyushu's south-east coast.

"The surface of the sea is wavering. I felt an intense jolt when the quake happened, which lasted for between 30 seconds and a minute," a local official told NHK.

Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said officials were notified of one minor injury and two other unspecified injuries.

No disruptions to infrastructure, including electricity, water and telecommunications, were reported, he added.

Unverified footage shared on social media shows minor damage, including dishes and books that had fallen off shelves and a small wall that had collapsed in a carpark.