5.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Japan

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale struck northern Japan's Hokkaido island on Friday.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake occurred at 3:04 am (UTC) and its epicenter was situated nearly 370 km north-east of Sapporo city. The temblor originated at a depth of 30 km. There are no reports of damage and casualties so far. No tsunami warning has been issued.

On September 6, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake rattled Hokkaido, claiming 41 lives and injuring over 650.

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.