Quake jolts eastern Japan, no damage reported

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 jolted Izu Peninsula in eastern Japan late yesterday, a government agency said.

There were no reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued after the quake at 11.45 p.m. (14.45 GMT).

The focus of the shallow tremor was in Ito city in Shizuoka prefecture, 150 km southwest of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Izu Peninsula is a tourist region known for a high degree of seismic activity. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude six or greater.