TOKYO – At least 32 people have allegedly been killed and more than one thousand injured after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. It comes just over a day after a 6.4 magnitude quake hit the same region killing nine people.

The latest and most powerful earthquake struck near the city of Kumamoto.

The city’s 400-year-old Kumamoto Castle was badly damaged, with its walls breached after having withstood bombardment and fire in its four centuries of existence.

The quake also triggered a tsunami advisory which was later lifted and no irregularities were reported at three nuclear power plants in the area, a senior government official said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the speed of rescue efforts was critical given that wet weather is forecast overnight, which could further damage weakened buildings and cause landslides.

“Nothing is more important than human life and it’s a race against time. I want rescue activities to continue with the utmost effort,” Abe said at a government meeting after the disaster.

The epicentre of the quake was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, the United States Geological Survey said.

– with other agencies