Strong quake jolts southern and western Japan

TOKYO - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 jolted western and southern Japan on Monday, injuring at least eight people and disrupting transportation. The focus was 87 miles below the earth’s surface in Oita prefecture on Kyushu island, about 500 miles southwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake halted some local rail services, while bullet trains were forced to run at reduced speed as safety checks were conducted, public broadcaster NHK said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13265758/