Fresh earthquake hits east Japan's Izu Peninsula

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A fresh quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 hit Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan Friday morning, following a similarly strong trembler that occurred late Thursday night.

The quake briefly suspended Shinkansen bullet train services. A 78-year-old man suffered a broken hip after falling down the stairs at his home, and a woman was taken to a hospital in the city of Ito in the east of the peninsula for treatment of injuries from a fall, according Kyodo News.

No tsunami warning was issued after the 8:45 a.m. earthquake.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake originated at a shallow depth below sea level off the east of the peninsula. It occurred nine hours after a similar trembler shook the same area, prompting the agency to warn that a series of quakes could follow.

After Thursday night's quake, which took place at 11:45 p.m., local police said they received several reports of damage, including collapsed walls in houses and ruptured water pipes.

At the city's port, a bridge sank by around 7 centimeters over a span of around 60 meters.

Chubu Electric Power Co. said the quake did not affect the operation of a nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Both earthquakes logged lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in some parts of the peninsula, including Ito.

The agency observed quakes with an intensity of 3 four times in the same area between Thursday midnight and 6 a.m. Friday along with a frequent number of smaller tremblers the Kyodo report said, adding seismic activities in the area could continue.

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