A moderate earthquake hit off southwest Japan late Saturday but there no immediate reports of casualties or damage, seismologists said. The tremor hit off south-western Tanegashima island 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south-west of Tokyo at 9:58 pm (1258 GMT).
The US Geological Survey measured the tremor at 6.1 magnitude with a depth of 21 kilometres while the Japan Meteorological Agency put it at 5.7 and a shallower 10 kilometres. A massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake and following tsunami devastated north-east Japan on March 11, with nearly 28,000 people dead or missing. A number of strong aftershocks have shaken the country. A magnitude 7.1 tremor hit the region late Thursday.