Japan earthquake: Thousands in shelters overnight after tsunami warnings

Thousands of people in Japan are currently seeking refuge in evacuation centers for the night following a powerful earthquake.

According to Kyodo news agency, at least two individuals are feared dead, and the toll is expected to increase in the coming days

Dozens of buildings in various towns have collapsed, trapping an undisclosed number of individuals beneath the rubble, reports BBC.

The 7.6-magnitude quake struck at around 16:10 local time (07:10 GMT) on Monday. Tsunami warnings were issued and later downgraded.

About 60 tremors have been recorded following the initial quake.

A snowboarder on holiday in Japan's Hakuba Alps said his entire hotel room shook. Speaking to Reuters, Baldwin Chia said he was concerned about avalanches but hadn't received reports of any taking place.

He said it was common to hear about earthquakes in Japan, but "you wouldn't expect to actually experience one".

Andy Clark, a Briton in Japan, described to the BBC a "scary afternoon and evening", as he was in the affected coastal city of Toyama when the quake hit.

He said he "grabbed the sea wall to stay upright" before heading to a school roof for safety. Mr Clark said it was proving "hard to get some sleep" due to the aftershocks.

Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University, said he felt tremors for about two minutes despite being in Yokohama, on the other side of Japan's main island. He told the BBC the quake was "very, very serious".