Earthquake strikes off Japan's Ryukyu Islands

Moderate quake hits near Ishigaki, no tsunami warning

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes off the coast of Japan's Ryukyu Islands, no reports of major damage or injuries

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck off the coast of Japan's Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday, Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The quake occurred at 11:16 a.m. local time (02:16 GMT) with its epicenter located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Ishigaki Island.

According to the JMA, the quake had a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles) and no tsunami warning was issued. There have been no immediate reports of major damage or injuries.

The Ryukyu Islands are a chain of islands that stretch from Kyushu to Taiwan. They are part of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture and are home to about 1.3 million people. The islands are located in a seismically active zone and are frequently hit by earthquakes.

In 2018, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Ishigaki Island, causing widespread damage on the island and neighboring islands. However, there were no reports of injuries.

The JMA is continuing to monitor the situation and has advised residents in the area to be prepared for aftershocks.