May 9, 2017
(AFP) - A strong earthquake hit southern Japan on Tuesday, though there was no tsunami warning nor immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The magnitude 6.0 quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) in waters off the island of Miyako in the southern Okinawan chain, according to the US Geological Survey.
Japan's Meteorological Agency warned of small changes in sea levels but no tsunami.
Miyako, with a population of about 55,000, sits some 1,840 kilometres (1,143 miles) southwest of Tokyo and about 380 kilometres east of Taipei.
Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year, though damage is often slight thanks to rigorous building codes and broad earthquake awareness.
But a massive undersea quake on March 11, 2011 sent a tsunami barrelling into Japan's northeast coast.
More than 18,500 people were left dead or missing and three reactors went into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
It was Japan's worst disaster in the post World War II-era.
Also, a strong 6.4 earthquake struck off the remote Andreanof Islands in Alaska on Monday but there was no immediate risk of a tsunami, authorities said.
The temblor followed a series of quakes that shook the area early Monday, including one measuring 5.9 and another measuring 5.7, according to the US Geological Survey.
The Andreanof Islands are part of the Aleutian Islands chain in southwestern Alaska.
The area suffered a major 8.6 earthquake in 1957.
The latest quake struck 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) southwest of the Tanaga volcano.
The National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no immediate danger of a tsunami.