Update: 11:51AM Nine people have died, hundreds are injured and buildings have been destroyed in an earthquake and aftershocks in southern Japan.
Replace The 6.2 tremor struck 11km east of the city of Kumamoto, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), at 9.26pm, and a second major quake, measuring 5.9, struck about midnight.
At least one person was killed after being crushed by a collapsing building, local media reported. More than 400 people were taken to hospital. At least two of the deaths occurred in the town of Mashiki, where the shaking was most severe. The town lies 15km east of Kumamoto.
The Kyodo news agency said some 44,400 people had also been evacuated and more than 100 aftershocks had been recorded since the quake.There was no tsunami warning, but Japan’s chief government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said several buildings had collapsed. He gave no more details.