Offshore earthquake shakes Japan

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the coast of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa today, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

The quake occurred at 4.42pm (0742 GMT) about 30 miles below the ocean's surface.

The Japanese Met Agency said there is no danger of a tsunami, or seismic waves.

Police on Okinawa or nearby islands said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Yasumori Uezu, police spokesman at Naha City near the quake's centre, said, "Our building shook quite violently, but we managed to stand on our own feet, and nothing fell on the floor."

Okinawa is about 1,000 miles south-west of Tokyo.