A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit the Chugoku region near the Sea of Japan coast in western Japan at 1:30 p.m. Friday, injuring at least 34 people and damaging several buildings, the Meteorological Agency and police said.

The National Police Agency said 28 injured were in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. However, a tally of municipal officials in all the affected areas indicated at least 34 people were injured.

The quake registered an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese scale of 7 in the city of Sakaiminato and the town of Hino, a lower 6 in the towns of Saihaku and Mizokuchi, and an upper 5 in Yonago, all in Tottori Prefecture, the agency said.