Magnitude 5.9 quake hits Japan

Tokyo: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale on Tuesday hit Japan off the east coast of Honshu, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The quake struck at 12.38 pm (0338 GMT), the US Geological Survey said.

The epicentre was at a depth of 11.40 km, Xinhua reported.

A magnitude-9 quake hit northeast Japan March 11, triggering an enormous tsunami. More than 8,900 people have been confirmed dead so far, while over 12,000 were still missing.