Southern Japan jolted by 5.7 magnitude earthquake

In Japan, an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude struck southern Okinawa island and a chain of neighbouring islands today. But no tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of any damage or injury.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. Japan accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

Fox News reported that the Japan Meteorological Agency has said that the quake occurred at 2:20 p.m. Monday off the coast of Okinawa, at the depth of 40 kilometers below the sea surface.

The quake in the south came just minutes after another relatively strong temblor hit the north.

A magnitude 5.5 quake occurred just off the southern coast of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island at 2:13 p.m. (0513 GMT). There was no fear of tsunami from this one either.

There were no reports of immediate damage or injuries from the two earthquakes that struck almost simultaneously at both ends of the Japanese archipelago.