Ishikawa earthquake

More than 50 people were reported missing Thursday as Japanese rescuers battled to reach hundreds still cut off from help three days after a devastating earthquake left at least 78 dead.

As the frantic search for survivors continues, more than a dozen communities remained isolated by landslides and blocked roads in central Japan, where the 7.5-magnitude quake struck on Monday.

Japanese rescuers scrambled to search for survivors Wednesday as authorities warned of landslides and heavy rain after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 62 people.

The 7.5-magnitude quake on January 1 that rattled Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves more than a metre high, sparked a major fire and tore apart roads.

Tragedy struck Japan as a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale claimed the lives of at least 48 individuals in the first hours of the New Year, according to BBC reports. The quake's epicenter was located in Ishikawa Prefecture, prompting immediate response efforts and warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency, which later canceled tsunami alerts.

Japan faces a crisis as tsunami waves, following a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake, reach up to 1.2 meters high along the coast. NHK reports flooding in Uajiyama and smaller waves in Toyama Prefecture, sparking evacuation orders for high-risk areas.