Strong earth quake hits western Japan

An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit wide areas from eastern to western Japan on Sunday evening, with warnings for tsunami tidal waves issued for Mie and Wakayama prefectures.

The 7:07 p.m. (1007 GMT) quake measured lower 5 on the Japanese intensity scale of 7 in Nara and Wakayama prefectures, and 4 in eight other prefectures, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The focus of the quake was 10 kilometers under the seabed off the Kii Peninsula in the region.

The quake was felt in Tokyo and its neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture in eastern Japan and also in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan.