TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted southern Japan Monday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

    The 11:50 a.m. (0250 GMT) quake shook Japan's southern Oita prefecture, as well as some parts of Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures. Its epicenter was 50 kilometers under ground.

    No tsunami warning was issued from the quake. There were no reports of casualties or damage. Enditem