155 earthquakes rattle Japan; over 24 dead, hundreds trapped under debris

New Delhi : It is battle against time for the Japanese rescuers who are pushing themselves to save all possible lives of people trapped under the debris of fallen buildings due to 155 earthquakes in Japan on the new year day.

24 people have been reportedly dead in the natural calamity, while hundreds of people have been reported trapped under the debris of destructed buildings.

An earthquake of 7.5 magnitude was reported at Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu, triggering tsunami waves of several meters in heights. Buildings toppled, major fires were reported and roads were torn as people tried to save their lives from the natural calamity.

"Very extensive damage has been confirmed, including numerous casualties, building collapses and fires," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after a disaster response meeting.

"We have to race against time to search for and rescue victims of the disaster."

Aerial footage of destructions is now getting viral on social media, showcasing major destructions in Wajima, where a seven-storey building collapsed. With power cut, more than 45,000 households were seen struggling in the dark.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a magnitude of 7.5. Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.6, and said it was one of more than 150 to shake the region through Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, as per latest updates, all tsunami warnings have been lifted from Japan.

HELPLINE NUMBER for Indians

Indian Embassy in Japan has setup an emergency helpline for information regarding any affected family in Japan due to earthquake.