A 6.7 magnitude earthquake recently shook Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost prefecture, as other parts of the country recover from the devastation caused by Typhoon Jebi that wreaked havoc earlier this week.
The earthquake hit southern Hokkaido at around 3 a.m. on Thursday at the depth of 40 kilometers (24 miles) with its epicenter said to be located east of the city of Tomakomai, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency via TIME.
3:08分頃 6強
3:17分 震度3
3:20分震度3
3:23分震度4
3:32分震度3余震がかなり多く続いてるみたいです。
※北海道釧路市で現在停電が
発生してるみたいです。ロウソクなどは使わず
落ち着いて行動してください！😭余震続いてますので
少しでもSNSで情報が届きますように。 pic.twitter.com/j7kMppTSUL— 華歌応援団❁わしこ (@REINA120w) September 5, 2018
The quake traveled up to the prefecture’s capital, Sapporo, where 1.9 million people live.
Social media photos show the destruction of #Hokkaido‘s Sapporo after a M6.7 earthquake on Thursday. The city’s telephone services & TV broadcasts were affected, the New Chitose Airport cancelled flights, and train services were disrupted. (Photos: @KRN_JPN113) #北海道地震 #札幌 pic.twitter.com/e7eCBhYvuH
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) September 6, 2018
It triggered many landslides that crushed homes and knocked out power to about 2.9 million households in the affected area which was caused by the emergency shutdown of the main thermal power plant at Tomato Atsuma.
Footage shows the moment a M6.7 earthquake hit Japan’s #Hokkaido at about 3 am on Thursday local time. At least 1 person is dead, 126 people are injured and about 40 more are missing, NHK reports. #北海道地震 pic.twitter.com/msVuqEG7D8
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) September 6, 2018
The power plant is responsible for powering up more than half of Hokkaido’s households.
セイコーマートは買い物不可。セブンイレブン。ローソンはできるみたいですが。物資は分け与えましょう！#北海道地震 pic.twitter.com/nZqQ5IkQoY
— W41たいちゃん (@close_to_me1218) September 5, 2018
There are roughly 125 people injured so far and nearly 40 people are still missing, according to the tally of Japanese national broadcast network NHK. Two people have been confirmed dead from the tragedy.
However, Japanese reports suggest that at least five people are still trapped under the rubble of homes destroyed by the landslide in the town of Atsuma, SoraNews24 reported.
安平で震度６強、道内全戸で停電 厚真で１９人安否不明
道警によると、厚真町吉野地区の斜面が長さ数百メートルに渡って大規模に崩落。山に沿って道路と住宅があり、複数の家屋が土砂の下敷きになっています。https://t.co/m5FjgZGMCi pic.twitter.com/tlXXzfAsj0— 北海道新聞 (@doshinweb) September 6, 2018
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that more than 4,000 defense force soldiers have been deployed in the affected areas of the earthquake, and if needed, the number could increase for up to 25,000 more personnel, CNN reported.
NEWS②#北海道地震 #北海道#震度6強 #震度6弱 #拡散希望 pic.twitter.com/vCrcss0DmW
— rie (@kmryreota) September 6, 2018
Water supplies have also been cut in a large number of homes. The government is now providing six-liter packs of water to residents at many water distribution points.
【#拡散希望】
非常用飲料水は「体育館」「役場・役所」「消火栓の付近」などで無料で袋とともに配布されています！バケツやペットボトル等お持ちの方は、袋ではなく持参して欲しいと水道局の方がおっしゃってました！#地震 #北海道 #札幌 #北海道地震 pic.twitter.com/oAXbkwslQD
— 札幌朝活コミュニティ☀️『朝ppo』代表 ⊿ 西村 幸志郎(22) (@he_is_kobinai) September 5, 2018
Residents also lined up at convenience stores that are still operating after the disaster to stock up on essential supplies.
#北海道地震
なう。
コンビニもやばい。
店員さん、ありがとう。もちろんほとんど物ないし、
充電器も売り切れだし、
自販機も動いてないし、、、 pic.twitter.com/ov5Sl3mfnJ— ぽむみ (@Mimimiminpom) September 5, 2018
Transportation services were also suspended with many travelers left stranded mainly at Hokkaido’s New Chitose international airport after the cancellation of all domestic and international flights.
今後の情報を我々は待っています…@新千歳空港到着ロビー#新千歳空港#北海道地震 pic.twitter.com/0W6D5FyRdE
— ひかり (@HIKARI_gons) September 5, 2018
Officials have warned people who are still in the area for any possible aftershocks in the coming days. No tsunami warning has been raised following the earthquake.
Featured image (left) via Twitter / usapon0301 | (right) via Twitter / k_kikuchi_tw
