TOKYO — A powerful earthquake in western Japan knocked loose roof tiles, toppled store shelves and caused power failures Friday afternoon but apparently caused no widespread damage. At least seven people were injured, one seriously.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude-6.6 quake occurred in Tottori, a prefecture on the Sea of Japan about 430 miles west of Tokyo. The epicenter was at a relatively shallow depth of 7 miles. Shallow quakes potentially cause more damage, but Friday’s damage appeared to be mostly minor or localized.
At least two houses collapsed, and television footage showed roof tiles knocked loose, wall fragments from a sake brewery fallen to the ground, and wine bottles and food items scattered on a store floor. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said a woman cooking in a restaurant was taken to a hospital after she was splashed with oil.