NZ singer tells of Japan quake

In the aftermath of an earthquake that caused widespread damage and deaths in Japan, one New Zealand woman recounted her experience of being in the country when the quake hit.

On New Year’s Day, the west coast of Japan was struck by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake. That was followed by a series of aftershocks.

At least 55 people have died, although authorities fear the toll could rise.

The quake prompted tsunami warnings and evacuation orders.

New Zealand professional singer Sophie Morris was in Japan and inside her Tokyo hotel room on the 31st floor when the earthquake struck.

"We had a Japanese travel app which sent us an alert saying an earthquake was going to hit in about 30 seconds. My partner and I sort of looked at each other — could be way offshore or could be where we are — we stood in a door frame in bathroom as there was nowhere else to go.

"Sure enough, it rolled through."

Ms Morris said there were "pretty big" surges and swayings, along with lots of creaking and other noises.

"We were on 31st out of 32 floors, so right up the top — it felt like we were on a boat.

"The hotel speakers announced a major earthquake had occurred and to stay in rooms with doors open to not get jammed in, and we tried to stay away from the windows."

She said she and her partner were relieved to look out the windows and to see other buildings around them were not falling down.

"Since then, we have been following the news, no major warnings here. There was tsunami warnings elsewhere, but mainly we’re just keeping informed just in case there were more quakes in the next few days."

More than 140 tremors have been detected since the earthquake first hit on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The earthquake trapped people under collapsed buildings, and disrupted electricity and mobile coverage in the epicentre of the quake in Ishikawa prefecture.

The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a major tsunami warning and said waves could reach as high as 5m in the parts of the Noto Peninsula facing the Japan Sea.

As of yesterday, all tsunami warnings had been lifted.

A thousand army personnel had been sent to the worst-hit area in the country's relatively remote Noto peninsula, but rescue operations have been hindered by badly damaged and blocked roads and one of the area's airports had had to close because of cracks in the runway.