5.5 magnitude quake strikes off Hokkaido, Japan

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 struck eastern Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Saturday.

According to the agency, the earthquake occurred at 11:51 a.m. local time, but no damage was reported and no tsunami warning was issued as a result of the tremor.

The weather agency said the quake originated 80 kilometers underground in the Pacific off the Nemuro Peninsula, and was logged at 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven in both Nemuro and Nakashibetsu in Hokkaido. Endit