Japan's Meteorological Agency is reporting a magnitude 6.0 earthquake has hit the central region.

The earthquake hit the area off the Sea of Japan coast.

It is the same part of the country where a huge tremor on New Year's Day and its aftershocks caused widespread destruction, with over 200 dead.

A tsunami forecast has been put in place in the Niigata Prefecture to the North West coast. However, it is not expected to exceed 0.2m in height.

Traffic cones stand along a road damaged in the January 1 earthquake in Nishiaraya, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

The quake on New Year's Day destroyed and toppled buildings, caused fires and knocked out infrastructure on the Noto Peninsula on Japan's main island Honshu.

More to come...