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Moderate quake rattles southern Japan

(AP)
Updated: 2007-05-07 09:03

TOKYO - A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 jolted southern Japan early Monday, but there was no danger of tsunami, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

The quake occurred off the coast of Tanegashima island at 9:29 a.m. (0029 GMT) about 70 kilometers (43 miles) below the seabed, the agency said.

There was no danger of tsunami from the quake, which rattled Tanegashima, as well as cities in the southern region on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu. No injuries or damage were immediately reported.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it sits atop four tectonic plates.

Tanegashima, home to Japan's main space launch facility, is about 970 kilometers (600 miles) southwest of Tokyo.