A group of Japanese students and teachers are believed to be trapped in a collapsed building in Christchurch, New Zealand following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit the area on Tuesday, said the Japanese foreign ministry.

Of the school group comprising 23 students and teachers from the Toyama College of Foreign Languages based in the Hokuriku region of Japan, eight are reportedly awaiting rescue from the cafeteria building on the fourth floor of the six-story King's College, according to prefecture authorities in contact with a teacher on site.

A female teacher who was leading the group emailed her family to say she was trapped under rubble and had seven students near her.

Katsuya Ikkatai, director of Japan National Overseas Safety at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he was unsure of exactly how many members of the group were in the cafeteria when the earthquake struck and the whereabouts of 12 other members is currently unknown.

Two of the rescued students have been sent to the hospital, with one having suffered broken bones, authorities said.

It was the second day of a month-long study-abroad language program for the predominantly college-age students, Ikkatai said.

Japan will dispatch an emergency survey team consisting of three persons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the foreign ministry said in a press release Tuesday.

Additionally, the government under Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara will set up a task force to provide support for those affected by the quake and Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called for preparations to be made to provide aid to New Zealand and safeguard the well-being of Japanese citizens there.

Maehara will also meet with New Zealand's ambassador to Japan later Tuesday, to tell the consul that Japan is primed to provide emergency support to the stricken city.

Separately, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations said Tuesday that both long-distance runners Kayoko Fukushi and Yukiko Akaba, who have been training in Christchurch, have been confirmed safe and unharmed.