Japan quake toll rises to 48, many feared trapped in cold

Authorities confirmed 48 deaths, all in Ishikawa prefecture, making it Japan’s deadliest earthquake since 2016

A powerful earthquake that hit Japan on new year's day killed at least 48 people, with rescue A teams struggling in freezing temperatures on Tuesday to reach isolated areas where many people are feared trapped under toppled buildings.

In Suzu, a coastal town of just over 5,000 households near the quake's epicentre, 90% of houses may have been destroyed, according to its mayor Masuhiro Izumiya.

"The situation is catastrophic," he said. The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck on Monday afternoon, prompting people in western coastal areas to flee to higher ground as tsunami waves swept cars and houses into the water.

Around 200 tremors have been detected since the quake first hit on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which warned more strong shocks could hit in the coming days.

A coast guard aircraft en route to deliver aid to the quake-hit region collided with a commercial airplane in Tokyo's Haneda airport on Tuesday, killing five coast guard crew while all 379 on board the Japan Airlines flight miraculously escaped a fire.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the extent of the quake damage was becoming "increasingly clear" more than 24 hours after the quake struck on the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.