M6.2 quake strikes Shimane prefecture

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake shook western Japan yesterday but no tsunami warning was issued and no major damage was reported.

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The tremor was recorded at 10.18am in Shimane prefecture at a shallow depth, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

The US Geological Survey recorded a slightly lower 5.8 magnitude reading which it then lowered to 5.7.

The quake measured upper-five on Japan's Shindo scale of shakiness in the western city of Yasugi. At that level, heavy furniture may fall and drivers can have trouble steering.

The JMA said that the same region was hit soon afterwards by smaller quakes with magnitudes of 4.5, 5.1, 3.8 and 5.4, also with no tsunami alerts.