3 dead, dozens injured as 6.1 quake hits Japan

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the city of Osaka, western Japan on Monday morning, leading to partial building collapses.

IMAGE: Water flows out from cracks in a road damaged by an earthquake in Takatsuki, Osaka prefecture. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

At least three people, including a nine-year-old girl, died. At least 37 people are reportedly injured, as per NHK World.

The nine-year-old girl was knocked down by a concrete wall at her elementary school as she walked by. A man in his 80s died in the collapse of a concrete wall in Osaka city. An 84-year-old man in nearby Ibaraki died after a bookshelf fell on top of him at home, according to city officials.

IMAGE: A police officer stands guard at the site where a girl was killed by fallen wall caused by an earthquake at an elementary school in Takatsuki, Osaka prefecture. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

The quake knocked over walls, broke windows and set off scattered building fires. It toppled book shelves in homes and scattered goods on shop floors. It also cracked roads and broke water pipes, leaving homes without water.

IMAGE: Employees try to remove bottles and cans of beverages which are scattered by an earthquake at a liquor shop in Hirakata. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Shinkansen bullet train services were also halted and dozens of domestic flights in and out of Osaka were grounded.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said no tsunami warning has been issued yet.

IMAGE: Passengers walk on a rail after their train was stopped in Ikdea, Osaka prefecture, western Japan. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

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