Japan earthquake ravages Hokkaido island: Magnitude of 6.7
A massive earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 ravaged the island of Hokkaido on Thursday. The Japan earthquake has injured and trapped a number of people. Power failure has also occurred in various areas of the country.
A rural area in Atsuma has faced a landslide. Some ten people had been taken to the hospital from that area alone. Some of them were in serious condition.
Japanese media have reported that after the Japan earthquake, at least one person was killed and 32 are still missing. The northern island of Hokkaido has been completely paralysed after the massive quake. Power has been cut off from 5.3 million residents.
The number of missing people is drastically increasing. It is evident from the fact that the number of missing people went up from 19 to 32 in a very short interval.
Aerial footage has shown dozens of landslides in the town of Atsuma. This has exposed barren hillsides with mounds of reddish earth and fallen trees piled up at the edge of green fields. Collapsed and dilapidated remains of houses and barns were scattered about the whole region.
Hokkaido Electric Power Co was forced to conduct an emergency shutdown for all its fossil fuel-fired power plants after the quake. This has resulted in a power outage in the entire island.
It still isn’t clear as day when the electricity will be restored to the 2.95 million households. The trade and industry ministry told the utility to restart its power plants within a few hours.
All trains across the island were halted as well. New Chitose Airport, which is Hokkaido’s main airport did not go unscathed. Roof tiles and water could be seen on the floor. The airport will remain closed for at least Thursday.
The Japan earthquake was a massive hit to the country. These natural disasters are not in anyone’s control. People are praying for death tolls not to increase any further. Japan should resurface to its normative within the week.
