Top Japanese officials sent their condolences to Myanmar and Thailand on Sunday, a day after a huge earthquake killed more than 1,000 people.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a message to Thailand, while Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya sent messages to both Thailand and Myanmar.

“I have been saddened by the news that the earthquake that struck in central Myanmar on March 28 has caused a massive damage," Ishiba said in the message released by the Prime Minister's Office. "I extend our deepest sympathies to those who have been affected.

"We stand with the Kingdom of Thailand, our good friend.”

Iwaya, meanwhile, said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the significant damage caused by the earthquake in central Myanmar."

"My heartfelt condolences go out to all those affected," he said.

"I sincerely pray for the swift recovery of those affected as well as the early restoration of the disaster-stricken areas. We stand with the people of Myanmar, our close friend, in this difficult time," he added.

The death toll from a huge earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,000 on Saturday, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors.

The shallow 7.7-magnitude quake struck northwest of the city of Sagaing in central Myanmar in the early afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock.