Soccer team heading home after quake

A team of young New Zealand soccer players is hoping to get out of earthquake-hit Japan today.

The under-17 team was in Niigata when the region was struck by a 6.8 magnitude quake on Monday (NZ time).

The death toll has risen to seven and hundreds have been injured.

The world's largest nuclear power plant located in the region also suffered some damage.

The quake struck just as Colin Tuaa, the coach of the under-17 men's football team, was delivering a pre-match pep talk.

Mr Tuaa said the quake lasted about 40 seconds and was followed by several aftershocks.

He added it was only after the game as they were travelling back to their hotel, that they realised how much damage the quake had caused.

Houses had been destroyed and trains derailed. The team hopes to drive to Tokyo today to catch a flight home.

A fresh quake struck early today in the Sea of Japan off Kyoto which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale.

- NEWSTALK ZB