Japan is hit by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake as tremors destroy homes in the hard-hit region, still reeling from the devastating quake

EARTHQUAKES hit a Japanese region for the second time this year, destroying five homes and leaving residents injured.

A magnitude 5.9 tremor struck the northern top of the Noto Peninsula, known for its beautiful coastal scenery, on Monday morning.

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The earthquake was followed minutes later by a 4.9 magnitude tremor and then several smaller earthquakes within the next two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

Japan’s north-central Ishikawa region was still recovering from a strong earthquake that occurred on January 1 when tremors were felt again today.

Five houses damaged in the January 1 earthquake collapsed this morning in the city of Wajima, when an earthquake alarm in the city of Tsubata – about 60 miles southwest of the epicenter – stunned a 60-year-old resident.

The woman fell out of bed and suffered a non-life-threatening injury, according to provincial authorities.

Residents were seen today leaving their homes and temporary shelters, where they were recovering from the January earthquake, to check the damage caused by the new wave of tremors.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged them to be cautious about possible rockfalls and landslides.

He said: “A lot of people who lived in evacuation centers must have been scared.”

The nearby plant, the Shika plant on the Noto Peninsula, also suffered minor damage, the Nuclear Regulation Authority said.

Today’s earthquakes are believed to be aftershocks of January’s magnitude 7.6 quake, said Satoshi Harada, JMA seismology and tsunami officer.

The official appealed to people to be cautious, especially near buildings that were damaged earlier this year.

Seismic activity has decreased slightly and Shinkansen superexpress trains and other rail services – which were temporarily suspended for safety checks – have mostly resumed.

A guesthouse operator in Wajima, one of the worst-hit areas on New Year’s Day, told Japanese public broadcaster NHK how he immediately ducked under a table when the first earthquake struck this morning.

Three people are still missing from the Jan. 1 earthquake that killed 260 people, including some who died from stress, illness and other causes linked to the tremors, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Many damaged homes have not yet been repaired and more than 3,300 residents remain evacuated.

Japan has been on high alert since 150 strong tremors struck on New Year’s Day, with several buildings considered at “very high risk” of collapsing.

Strong earthquakes and tsunamis hit Japan’s main island of Honshu – the worst of which was a magnitude 7.6 tremor.

Japan’s meteorological agency warned residents that more disasters were likely to hit the area again soon.

An agency spokesperson said: “Do not stray from the safe location.

“There is a very high risk of building collapses and other damage caused by the tremors.

“History tells us that earthquakes of similar scale could occur again within two to three days.”

Ishikawa was one of the most affected areas, alongside Toyama and Niigata.

Tsunami waves more than a meter high toppled buildings, destroyed roads and caused massive fires.

The photos showed houses crumpled and collapsing.

Some of the buildings were destroyed by flying cars, while others were swept out to sea by tsunamis.

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