People stunned at way Japan residents are warned that an earthquake is imminent

An urgent rescue operation is underway in Japan after the country was rocked by a series of major earthquakes, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warning there is a 'battle against time' to save those stuck under the rubble.

At least 48 people are reported to have been killed by the chaos that unfolded on New Year's Day, but the death toll could have been drastically higher if it wasn't for the nation's Earthquake Early Warning system.

Take a look at how it works in real time here:

As you can see, this lady really was saved by the bell - albeit with just a few seconds to spare.

The footage of her live stream being interrupted by the urgent alarm warning residents that an earthquake is imminent has been going viral on X, formerly Twitter, as people can't believe the way the system works.

In the clip, the woman seemed to be calmly chatting away to viewers despite being unnerved by the rumbles which are growing increasingly louder, before seemingly referring to the concerning noise by saying: "That's a big one."

Mere moments later, a frantic alarm begins to sound from her phone and she realises an earthquake is en route.

Three buzzing sounds blare out before the word 'Earthquake' follows in succession on repeat, so the streamer rushes to her feet to try and find a place of safety.

X/@levandov_2

"Oh my god its big! I've got to go, I'm sorry," she told viewers before heading off to find safety.

Just seven seconds after the Earthquake Early Warning system rang out, the room begins to shake violently as the earthquake hit.

The 'life-saving' service is run by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and it issues prompt alerts just as an earthquake starts so that people have 'valuable seconds to protect themselves before strong tremors arrive'.

It was initially introduced in October 2007 and originally delivered these urgent messages via media outlets, such as TV and radio - but it has since evolved and administers warnings via smartphones too.

As soon as a hint of an earthquake is detected, the focus and magnitude of it is analysed by using wave form data that is collected by seismographs near the epicentre.

Although the Earthquake Early Warning may only give locals a few extra seconds, it can make a massive difference.

For example, it allows time for trains or cars to slow down, for people escape an elevator or to quickly seek shelter to protect themselves whether they are at home, work, or out and about.

X/@levandov_2

In Japan, it is mandatory for all 3G mobile phones sold after 2007 to receive this service, although some foreign manufacturers are exempt.

Social media users were stunned by the high-tech system that can hopefully give people a fighting chance of surviving the fallout of a horror earthquake.

One said: "The Early Warning System in Japan is really strong. Can save many lives," while another wrote: "Japan has very good advance earthquake early warning system…More seismologically active zones should have it."

A third commented: "Not only the alarm system, they successfully teach how to escape safely, since an early age. She was so calm when going out from the room to the safe place. If it was me I'm gonna yeet myself the moment my alarm started ringing."

And a fourth wrote: "I’m impressed with Japan’s early earthquake warning system. In a minute like that, I received the notification and started to act."