Powerful quake hits southern Japan

A powerful magnitude 6.4 earthquake has hit southern Japan, but there are no immediate reports of damage and there is no tsunami threat.

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 has struck southern Japan.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the quake hit at 9.26pm (2226 AEST) on Thursday and was centred in the Kumamoto prefecture.

The agency says there's no danger of a tsunami. The extent of the damage is not immediately known.