Firefighters were searching for survivors in buildings flattened by a deadly 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Japan.

Members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Battalion, Kyoto Prefectural Battalion, and Shizuoka Prefectural Battalion were combing through collapsed houses in parts of Ishikawa Prefecture, one of the worst-hit regions, on January 11.

Footage shows officers climbing into a damaged house in Suzu City while clearing away debris. Another clip shows firefighters digging under the ruins of a roadside house in Wajima City, where a huge blaze had erupted at a local market following the massive earthquake.

Local media reported that as of Wednesday, the death toll stood at 206, with seven casualties dying at evacuation centres from injury and sickness, while 52 people were still missing as snowfall hindered rescue efforts.

Japan lies along the western edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' where the majority of Earth's volcano eruptions and earthquakes happen.