At least 30 people died after a series of strong earthquakes jolted Japan on the first day of 2024, even as authorities struggled to evaluate the magnitude of the disaster. Since Monday, the island nation has been hit by as many as 155 earthquakes, including an initial 7.6 magnitude jolt and another more than 6, the Japan Meteorological Office said.

Authorities issued tsunami warnings soon after the initial earthquake, with waves as high as 5-feet hitting the country. Nearly 33,000 households remain without power and several important routes across the country, including major highways, are non-operational, causing medics and army personnel to face difficulty with rescue services, news agency Reuters reported.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said eight deaths had been reported in Wajima town, which is near the earthquake’s epicentre. The national police agency confirmed the deaths of six people, the Reuters report added.