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Monday, 16 July 2007, 12:52 GMT 13:52 UK

In pictures: Japan earthquake

Rescuers sift through the wreckage of a house in Kashiwazaki

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Several people were killed and scores injured when a strong earthquake struck the area of Niigata in central Japan.

A passer-by looks at a collapsed house in Kashiwazaki

A passer-by looks at a collapsed house in Kashiwazaki

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Worst hit was the city of Kashiwazaki, where a number of houses were damaged and older buildings were reduced to rubble.

The remains of a traditional house in Kashiwazaki

The remains of a traditional house in Kashiwazaki

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Nearly 300 buildings in the city were destroyed and more than 7,000 people evacuated from their homes, officials said.

The remains of a house in Kashiwazaki

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The region subsequently suffered several strong aftershocks.

A house in Kashiwazaki

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Witnesses said the quake in Kashiwazaki was too strong for people to stand and went on for 20 seconds.

People look at a damaged road in Kariwa village, Niigata prefecture

People look at a damaged road in Kariwa village, Niigata prefecture

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Elsewhere, the earthquake caused roads to buckle. A tsunami warning was briefly issued and 50cm-high waves were reported to have hit the coast.

Workers stand in from of the burnt electricity transformer at the nuclear plant

Workers stand in from of the burnt electricity transformer at the nuclear plant

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At the Kashiwazaki nuclear plant, a fire broke out in an electricity transformer and a small amount of water containing radioactive material leaked into the sea, officials said.

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