EARTHQUAKES HIT SOUTHERN JAPAN AND VANUATU

Earthquakes have been reported east of Kumamoto in Southern Japan, and off the Pacific island of Vanuatu.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a strong quake with a 6.4 magnitude had struck a few miles off the southwestern island of Kyushu at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kms (6.2 miles).
Buildings were shaken and some train services were suspended as a precaution, but there were no immediate reports of any serious damage.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: "We intend to do the utmost to grasp the situation. I'm now planning to hear what we have gathered on the situation."
The Kyushu Electric Company said it was checking conditions at its Genkai and Sendai nuclear plants, but no irregularities had been reported.
A second quake with a 6.2 magnitude struck 133 kms (83 miles) north west of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean.
The US Geological Survey says there no tsunami warnings issued following the quakes.