Tokyo  - The death toll from the magnitude-7.2 earthquake that struck north-eastern Japan rose to 10 after a body was discovered under a collapsed inn at a hot-spring resort in Miyagi province, reports said Monday.

The building collapsed due to a landslide after Saturday's earthquake, which injured at least 234. Twelve people were still missing.

About 2,300 rescue workers with Japan's Self-Defence Force and the Tokyo Fire Department continued their search for people buried under collapsed houses and landslides in the quake-hit regions.

Several landslides blocked off major roads, making it difficult for rescuers to reach disaster areas.

The epicentre of the quake was approximately 100 kilometres north of Sendai in Iwate province, at a depth of about eight kilometres. (dpa)