A moderate earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, hit Volcano Islands in Japan at 9.27am Tuesday, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

It said the epicentre of the quake was 1,406km southeast of Hamamatsu in Japan, and 3,302km northeast of Sandakan in Sabah.

The quake did not pose any threat of a tsunami, it added.