5.4 magnitude earthquake jolts Japan, no casualties

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale struck off Japan's Miyazaki Prefecture located on the southeast coast of Kyushu Island on Wednesday.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the quake occurred at 9:11 am (local time). The epicentre was in Hyuga-nada Sea, which is a part of the Pacific Ocean that lies off the eastern shore of Kyushu Island.

The JMA said that no tsunami warning was issued. There were no immediate reports of damage to property or casualties as a result of the quake, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Japan's nuclear power plants located in the region affected by the quake have not reported any abnormalities, officials said.

Japan is prone to frequent earthquakes and lies in the 'Ring of Fire', an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, which is vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In 2011, Japan was hit by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggering powerful tsunami waves that caused rampant damage to properties, affecting operations massively in industries and leading to heavy casualties.

It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the history of the country. Over 15,000 people had lost their lives, while thousands of others were either injured or reported missing.