Strong quake rocks Japan island, triggering tsunami warning

TOKYO - An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Sunday, triggering tsunami warnings, officials said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake which occurred at 10:53 am (0153 GMT) with its epicentre located in waters off Fukuoka, a major city on the north coast of the island.
The government`s Meteorological Agency said the tsunami waves could rise as high as 50 centimeters (20 inches).
"We have not received any reports of damage or injuries so far," a spokesman at the Fukuoka prefectural police headquarters told AFP.
A municipal official on Iki, an islet near the epicenter, told Japan Broadcasting Corporation: "There was a sudden jolt and it rolled for tens of seconds. I crawled under a desk".

03/20/2005 02:36 GMT