As fatalities in the powerful Japan earthquake reach eight or more, rescue teams rushed to isolated areas hit by the magnitude 7.6 temblor on New Year’s Day.

Tsunami warnings were swiftly raised in several coastal areas in Central Japan. Residents in areas already experiencing tsunami waves were seen scampering to higher ground while many cars and houses were swept into the sea.

However, the warnings issued on Monday were either lifted or downgraded in coastal communities on Tuesday morning.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said there were no Filipinos among the initial number of casualties reported following the massive earthquake.

The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo continues to monitor the situation and ready to extend help to Filipinos in distress.

The powerful earthquake’s damage centered in the prefectures of Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata which are near the epicenter.

Available DFA data revealed that there are at least 1,305 Filipinos currently in Isikawa Prefecture, 2915 in Niagata Prefecture and 2,620 in Toyama Prefecture.

Two other provinces affected by the earthquake were Fukui Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture with 1,864 and 14,553 Filipinos, respectively.

“Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after being given the initial assessment of the earthquake’s devastation.

Situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, just like the Philippines, Japan suffers 20% of the world temblors beyond magnitude 6 and greater.

The New Year’s Day tremor ranked second to the March 11, 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake that killed 20,000 people and caused a meltdown in the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

On January 16, 1995 a magnitude 7.3 in Kobe also in Central Japan. This earthquake killed 6,400 people and caused an estimated $100 billion in damage.