A travel group of some 20 Chinese trapped in the quake-hit region has been evacuated. They were trapped in a hotel in Minamiaso after a landslide blocked the road.

Helicopters were sent in. The group had tried to leave Kumamoto by bus, but due to bad weather, they stayed the night in Minamiaso.  The Chinese consulate in Fukuoka says the tourists will head to Fukuoka today.