An earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale shook off on Thursday the coast of Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter of the tremor occurred off the eastern coast of the prefecture, at a depth of 50 km.

There have been no reports of human or material losses as a result of the tremor so far.

Japan is located at the meeting point of four tectonic plates, making it particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. It is also home to 100 active volcanoes.

In 2011, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale along with a tsunami, killed more than 15,000 people and caused a disaster at the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant.

Source: Qatar News Agency