TOKYO, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
There were no new reports of casualties and major damage.
No tsunami warning was issued for the 6:01 p.m. local time quake, the agency said. The tremor originated in Kumamoto Prefecture's Aso area at a depth of 9 km, the weather agency said.
The quake registered upper five on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven in Ubuyama Village in Kumamoto, about 900 km southwest of Tokyo.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned residents to remain alert for earthquakes of upper five levels in the coming week. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, accounting for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude six or greater. (end) mk.aai