A car is trapped on a partially collapsed road caused by a powerful earthquake near Anamizu Town, Ishikawa Prefecture Tuesday, January 2, 2024. (AP)

Rescuers in Japan are racing against time and formidable aftershocks on Tuesday as they worked to locate survivors of the earthquake that struck the country on New Year's Day.

The quake, with a magnitude of 7.5, struck Ishikawa prefecture on Honshu's main island, claiming a minimum of 30 lives and resulting in extensive destruction. This powerful seismic event generated tsunami waves exceeding one meter, leading to the collapse of buildings, igniting a major fire, and causing severe damage to roads.

Aftermath of devastating earthquake

At dawn, the extent of the devastation on the Noto Peninsula became apparent, with buildings on fire, homes flattened, fishing boats either submerged or stranded ashore, and highways impacted by landslides.

"It was such a powerful jolt," Tsugumasa Mihara, 73, told AFP as he queued with hundreds of others for water in the shellshocked town of Shika.

The local authorities reported a death toll of 30, with half of the fatalities occurring in Wajima. However, the number is anticipated to increase as more information becomes available.

"Very extensive damage has been confirmed, including numerous casualties, building collapses, and fires," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after a disaster response meeting, adding "We have to race against time to search for and rescue victims of the disaster."

Fire and power outages

Aerial news footage revealed the alarming extent of a fire that swept through Wajima, causing the collapse of a seven-story commercial building. In the aftermath, nearly 33,000 households in the region were left without power, with temperatures dropping to freezing overnight, as reported by the local energy provider. Numerous cities also faced water shortages.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) registered the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.5, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it slightly higher at 7.6. They noted that it was one of over 150 earthquakes that rattled the region throughout Tuesday morning.

Multiple powerful tremors were experienced on early Tuesday, with one registering at 5.6 on the scale. The intensity of this quake led the national broadcaster NHK to interrupt regular programming and switch to a special broadcast.