6.0 quake hits southern Japan, Okinawa

TOKYO, July 8 (UPI) -- A strong earthquake measuring at least 6.0 on the Richter scale rocked an area near the Japanese island of Okinawa Tuesday afternoon, seismologists said.

While the quake was felt on the island, there were no reports of damage or injuries, and Japan's meteorological agency told the Chinese Xinhua news agency that there was no danger of a tsunami.

The depth of the epicenter, about 50 kilometers, or 31 miles beneath the Earth's surface, apparently mitigated the force of the quake.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake measured 6.2 on its seismographs.