KUALA LUMPUR: A strong earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, at 6.30 am today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

In a statement, MetMalaysia said the earthquake was recorded at coordinates 40.2 degrees North and 142.2 degrees East, about 64 kilometres southeast of Hachinohe, Japan, at a depth of 79 kilometres.

The department’s preliminary assessment found that the earthquake posed no tsunami threat to Malaysia.