Bulletins 1200 18th June 2018

TOKYO: A powerful quake rocked Japan’s second city of Osaka on Monday, killing three people including a nine-year-old girl and injuring scores of others, according to an official tally.

Television images showed buildings swaying and burst pipes spewing water after the quake, which struck at the height of rush hour in the city of around two million people.

However, there was no large-scale destruction and no tsunami warning issued after the earthquake, although commuters were stranded and tens of thousands were left without power.

Among the casualties was a nine-year-old girl who died in the city of Takatsuki, north of Osaka city, reportedly trapped by a collapsed wall following the 5.3-magnitude quake.

Public broadcaster NHK said an 80-year-old man had also been killed by a collapsing wall and another man trapped under a bookcase in his home.

In addition to the three deaths, the government’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least 91 people were injured.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters the government was “working united, with its first priority on saving people’s lives”.