"A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Japan today," the US Geological Survey said, "but there were no immediate reports of damage."

The quake was the depth of 44 kilometers. It struck shortly at 6:42 am local time near the northeast coast of the main Honshu island, some 350 kilometers from Tokyo. But no tsunami warning was announced.

Japan is located at four tectonic plates and encounters a number of almost violent quakes every year, but the buildings are so strong that tremors don't do much damage.

However, the tsunami which hit in March 2011 left more than 18,000 people dead and missing. It also led to sending three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

In April also, two strong earthquakes hit southern Japan's Kumamoto area followed by more than 1,700 aftershocks, leaving at least 50 dead and producing widespread damage.

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BY M. DIVYA SRI