EMERGENCY workers struggled to rush food and blankets to evacuation centres as strong aftershocks jolted an earthquake-shattered swath of northern Japan yesterday, killing 25 people and driving 100,000 from their homes.

Powerful aftershocks rocked north-western Japan today, as tens of thousands of people huddled in evacuation centres following a devastating weekend earthquake that left 24 dead and injured thousands more.

Tens of thousands of Japanese huddled in makeshift emergency shelters today after a string of earthquakes in northern Japan flattened homes, toppled bridges and derailed trains, killing at least 21 people and reportedly injuring 2,000 others. Eight people were believed missing.

Three people were reported dead and around 200 injured after three strong earthquakes shook north-western Japan within minutes of each other today.

Three strong earthquakes shook north-western Japan within minutes of each other today, rocking buildings hundreds of miles away in Tokyo. Authorities had received reports that several people were injured.