Japan's disaster zone hit by fresh quake

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Saturday hit off the coast of northeastern Japan, still reeling from the massive March 11 quake and tsunami, according to the US Geological Survey.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Saturday hit off the coast of northeastern Japan, still reeling from the massive March 11 quake and tsunami, according to the US Geological Survey.

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The quake struck at 8.35am (2325 GMT Friday), 59 kilometres northeast of the Pacific coast city of Iwaki at a depth of nearly 38 kilometres, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties and no tsunami warning was issued.

The northeastern coast of Japan's main Honshu island was ravaged by a 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami on March 11, leaving 24,525 people dead or missing, according to the latest count by the National Police Agency.