The earthquake
The island of Hokkaido was struck by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake early Thursday morning, triggering landslides that destroyed homes and caused widespread power outages. The epicentre was 62km southwest of Sapporo, in the city of Tomakomai. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 5.3 were recorded after that.
No tsunami warning was issued, though the Japan Meteorological Agency said there was a slight change in sea level and officials also warned of more quakes, according to CNN.
Watch the moment a magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Hokkaido in northern Japan, causing landslides, levelling buildings and leaving almost 3 million households without power https://t.co/C76PQjDLCY #北海道地震 北海道電力 pic.twitter.com/JWDigR1iOj
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) September 6, 2018
It is not clear exactly how many people are injured, missing or trapped in their homes at this time, but one 82-year-old man reportedly died after falling down some stairs at home during the quake. Over 3 million homes are said to be without power.
A strong earthquake rocked Japan's northern island of Hokkaido shortly after 3 AM on Thursday. Police are checking on the extent of the damage. NHK WORLD-JAPAN is LIVE streaming the Hokkaido earthquake updates. https://t.co/QbGNxwoMjt pic.twitter.com/AX72kCYbEO
— NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) September 5, 2018
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Typhoon Jebi
Japan is still recovering from the strongest typhoon to hit the country in 25 years. Typhoon Jebi struck Osaka on Tuesday, 4 September, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Aerial photos show damage left by Typhoon Jebi after it hit Japan as the strongest storm to strike the island nation in 25 years. https://t.co/evxoGuM61O pic.twitter.com/eRTAuM4ju2
— ABC News (@ABC) September 6, 2018
Kansai International Airport was forced to close amid runway floods, as schools and other regional businesses like Universal Studios Japan shuttered temporarily. Hundreds of flights and other train services were also cancelled. The only bridge that links the mainland to the airport’s artificial island was damaged after an ocean tanker, driven by strong winds, smashed into it. Stranded travellers are being ferried by speedboats from the airport.
Winds up to 162km per hour made the typhoon, which the BBC reports has killed at least 10 people, the strongest Japan has seen since 1993.
Typhoon Jebi is the latest extreme weather event to besiege Japan — in pictures https://t.co/0hPvG88Z7k pic.twitter.com/53RoTllPT8
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 6, 2018
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