Earthquake strikes off Japan

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake has struck off the eastern coast of Japan's main island of Honshu, less than a day after a strong tremor in the same place triggered a tsunami warning.

The US Geological Survey said the quake, centered 126 miles east of the city of Sendai, was very shallow at only 1.2 miles deep.

It was in the same area as a magnitude 7.2 that triggered a tsunami advisory on Tuesday, but caused no damage or injuries.

Japan's northeast Pacific coast has suffered from quakes and tsunamis in the past.

In 1933, a magnitude 8.1 quake in the area killed over 3,000 people, and last year fishing facilities were damaged by a tsunami caused by a strong tremor in Chile.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's tremors of magnitude 6 or above.