5.6 magnitude quake hits Japan
A strong earthquake has hit southwestern Japan but there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and was centred about 18 miles below the Pacific Ocean.
The Meteorological Agency say the quake, off southern Kyushu Island, struck at 2.40pm.
The quake was felt over a wide area in Kyushu, 558 miles southwest of Tokyo, and neighbouring Shikoku Island, the agency said.
A quake of magnitude 5 can cause damage to homes if it occurs in a residential area.
The agency said there was no danger of tsunami, powerful undersea waves generated by seismic activity.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations as it sits on top of four tectonic plates, slabs of land that move across the earth's surface.
In late March, a magnitude-6.4 tremor hit five states in southwestern Japan, causing two deaths and reportedly injuring at least 160 people.
