The death toll is rising in western Japan following a powerful earthquake that struck the region Monday afternoon, writes VOA.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency is reporting at least 24 people were killed in the 7.6 magnitude quake, with Ishikawa prefecture sustaining the worst of the disaster.

Japanese officials said they had reports of at least 19 dead, but have not issued updated casualty figures.

Dozens of homes and buildings were flattened, with an unknown number of people trapped in the rubble. Roads have been split in pieces, and a runway at least one regional airport had cracked, making it difficult for emergency officials to assess the damage.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday during a meeting with government disaster officials that search and rescue crews are waging “a battle against time” to save any victims who remain trapped in the rubble in Ishikawa prefecture.

About 1,000 members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces have been dispatched to the disaster zones.