6.2-magnitude earthquake jolts western Japan

The initial quake was followed by a sizable number of aftershocks. There was no tsunami warning issued and no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit western Japan on Tuesday, the country's meteorological agency said.

The quake was relatively shallow, the meteorological service said, and struck around 10:18 a.m. local time (0118 GMT). There was no tsunami threat, the agency added. 

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 5.7.

The quake occurred in Shimane prefecture in northwestern Japan, impacting the cities of Matsue and Yasugi and nearby areas in Tottori prefecture. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage. However, parts of the Shinkansen bullet train network were temporarily suspended as a precaution, authorities said.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were detected at the Shimane nuclear power plant.

Smaller quakes and tremors followed

The quake registered an upper five on Japan's Shindo scale in the western city of Yasugi, strong enough to topple heavy furniture and make driving difficult.

According to the meteorological agency, the region was hit by multiple smaller quakes. 

Earthquakes common in Japan

Japan sits on the so-called "Ring of Fire," a region known for its high levels of seismic activity that is prone to large earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

It is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries and experiences roughly 1,500 earthquakes each year, most of them minor.

However, it also accounts for about 18% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 quake triggered a tsunami that left nearly 20,000 people dead and caused a devastating meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The Pacific Ring of Fire

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar