TOKYO – A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 has hit Japan’s south-western island of Kyushu.

The quake took down some buildings, but there were no immediate reports of injuries and the nuclear regulator reported no problems at power plants, a government spokesman said.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the quake – which originated at a depth of 10 kilometres – was initially measured at 6.2 but then revised down.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said the quake registered 6.4.

There was no tsunami warning, but Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga several homes had collapsed. He said the damage was still being assessed but nearby nuclear facilities had not affected.

“We intend to do the utmost to grasp the situation,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

“I’m now planning to hear what we have gathered on the situation.”

The Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no irregularities at three nuclear plants on the southernmost island of Kyushu and nearby Shikoku.

Some high-speed trains were halted as a precaution.

In March 2011, a powerful undersea earthquake sent tsunami waves along Japan’s north-east coast, killing almost 20,000 people and triggering a meltdown at a nuclear power plant.

– with other agencies