TOKYO, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 jolted Japan's central Niigata prefecture on Tuesday, the country's weather agency said.
The quake occurred at 5:59 p.m. local time with the epicenter near Sado Island off Niigata at a depth of 10 km, measuring 5 Lower on the country's seismic scale of 7, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
No tsunami warnings were issued.
The quake came amid a series of aftershocks following strong temblors with a major one of 7.6 magnitude that hit on New Year's Day in the Noto region of the neighboring prefecture of Ishikawa, which has killed at least 202 people so far. ■
