Earthquake PM Kishida calls for urgent response as death toll climbs to 55

Japan's prime minister has said the country is facing a "battle against time" to rescue those affected by a series of major earthquakes which reportedly killed at least 55 people, injured dozens and sparked fires that destroyed homes.

- Gavin Blair

Police and local authorities early yesterday reported cases of bodies being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings while others remained trapped.

"We must rescue them as quickly as possible, especially those who are trapped under collapsed structures," Fumio Kishida said during an emergency disaster meeting.

One thousand army personnel were dispatched to the worst-hit area in the country's relatively remote Noto peninsula, but rescue operations were hindered by badly damaged and blocked roads and one of the area's airports was forced to close due to runway cracks.

In Wajima city, fires were still burning at 7am local time yesterday and the fire department reported more than 100 homes and other buildings had been completely destroyed. At least 15 of the dead were in Wajima city, the Kyodo news agency said.

"I've never experienced a quake that powerful," said Wajima resident Shoichi Kobayashi, 71, who was at home having a new year's meal with his wife and son when the quake struck, sending furniture flying across the dining room.

"Even the aftershocks made it difficult to stand up straight," he said, adding his family were sleeping in their car because they could not return to their badly damaged home.