Six dead and dozens trapped as huge quake flattens homes and triggers tsunami fears

AT least six people were killed and dozens more are feared trapped in collapsed buildings after Japan was hit by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake.

- Robert Kellaway

A major tsunami warning was issued and residents were told to evacuate their homes and seek shelter on "higher ground or on top of buildings".

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, warned west coast residents: "Every minute counts. Please evacuate to a safe area immediately." South Korea, North Korea and the Russian east coast also issued tsunami warnings to their citizens.

A total of 21 earthquakes above 4.0 magnitude hit Japan shortly after 4pm local time yesterday.

The disaster left gaping cracks in road surfaces and demolished buildings in Suzu, a city close to the epicentre of the largest tremor on the coastline in Ishikawa prefecture.

Fire officials in Ishikawa reported more than 30 collapsed buildings and a huge fire which engulfed residential buildings in the city. A massive inferno was also seen in nearby Wajima.

Videos on social media showed terrified shoppers thrown to the ground in department stores and flooding at a train station after water pipes burst.

The earthquake struck as millions of Japanese flocked to temples to mark the New Year, and visitors were seen in footage crouching in fear as chunks of rock tumbled to the ground before them at sacred sites.

Japan's meteorological agency said that the earthquake's magnitude of 7.6 is the largest ever recorded in the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.

Waves up to 16ft high were feared at first, but the warning was later downgraded.

The country's meteorological agency later reported 4ft waves hitting Wajima port in Ishikawa.