JAPAN is bracing itself for huge swells to smash into its coast after experiencing a series of powerful earthquakes that sparked tsunami alerts in three other nations.

The destruction caused by over 80 quakes that struck today has left at least one dead, others buried alive and emergency services battling to control a major fire and fearing landslides.

A quick succession of dozens of earthquakes struck Japan's main island of Honshu on New Year's Day – the worst being a 7.6 magnitude that hit at 4.10pm local time.