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A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's southwestern islands on Friday, with no immediate reports of casualties, major damage or tsunami threat, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake hit at 1:04 p.m. local time, or 4:04 a.m. GMT, in waters north-northeast of Hirara, a city in Japan's Okinawa region.
The U.S. Geological Survey, known as USGS, placed the epicenter about 136 kilometers (84.5 miles) from Hirara and said the tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
Initial assessments pointed to a remote offshore epicenter near Okinawa Prefecture, reducing the likelihood of widespread damage in populated areas.
Authorities had not reported injuries or structural damage in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. Monitoring reports also showed no immediate indication of a tsunami threat.
Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where several tectonic plates meet.
The country records thousands of earthquakes each year, though most are too weak to cause serious damage.
Authorities continued to watch for possible aftershocks and any changes in impact assessments as preliminary USGS data remained under review.
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