Strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake jolts Japan, no tsunami threat

• A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Friday, forcing the suspension of bullet train services, but no tsunami warning was issued, authorities said

• The quake hit the central Ishikawa area at 14:42 (05:42 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

• Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended between Nagano and Kanazawa, a popular tourist destination, according to Japan Railway. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Friday, forcing the suspension of bullet train services, but no tsunami warning was issued, authorities said.

The quake hit the central Ishikawa area at 14:42 (05:42 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended between Nagano and Kanazawa, a popular tourist destination, according to Japan Railway. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Friday is a national holiday in Japan, part of a run of days off known as "Golden Week," a time when many people travel for entertainment or family. In the city of Suzu, the earthquake registered a higher six on Japan's Shindo. seismic scale that reaches a maximum of seven, which means it could cause large landslides.

The United States Geological Survey put the earthquake's magnitude at 6.2 and said it struck just off the coast, but the Japan Meteorological Agency placed the epicenter on land.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, which lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches across Southeast Asia and across the Pacific Basin. But Japan has strict building codes to ensure buildings can withstand strong tremors and routinely holds emergency drills to prepare for a major quake.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck a fishing village on the Noto Peninsula in the same region in 2007, injuring hundreds and damaging more than 200 buildings.