Strong quake hits eastern Japan, no tsunami threat

Officials say a strong earthquake has hit near Japan’s eastern coast, but there is no danger of a tsunami.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency says the quake struck on Monday evening and registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.0. It was centred off the coast of Ibaraki, about 220 kilometres east of Tokyo, at a depth of 20 miles (30 kilometres).

The agency says there is no danger of a tsunami. No injuries or damage have been reported.

Some 20,000 people died or were left missing across Japan’s North-eastern coast after a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11. The disaster damaged a nuclear power plant, forcing another 100,000 people to leave their homes because of a radiation threat.