Japan: Power restored to most of Hokkaido September 8 /update 4

Event

Recovery efforts are ongoing on the island of Hokkaido as of Saturday, September 8, following a 6.6-magnitude earthquake on September 6. Power has been restored to most parts of the island, however officials warned that rolling blackouts are possible in the coming days. According to government officials, the death toll from the quake has risen to 30, with nine people still missing. Most of the fatalities occurred in the town of Atsuma following a landslide. Transportation services have mostly returned to normal, with international flights resuming to Sapporo on Saturday. Aftershocks of up to 4.4-magnitude continued to affect the area on Friday, September 7, and more such quakes are expected in the coming days.

Context

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck 27 km (16.7 mi) east of Tomakomai at 03:07 at a depth of 33.4 km (20.7 mi), causing "Very Strong" shaking, or seven on a scale to 10, for the areas around the epicenter and up toward Sapporo. Five aftershocks in the same region between 4.3-magnitude and 5.4-magnitude and at a similar depth have been registered by the US Geological Survey (USGS) throughout the day on September 6.

Japan frequently experiences earthquakes given its location on four tectonic plates along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."

Advice

Individuals in the Hokkaido area are advised to be prepared for possible aftershocks, anticipate transportation disruptions, and confirm travel reservations. In general, after a powerful earthquake, check for damages and take note of your surroundings. If indoors, shut off water, gas, and electricity lines and evacuate the building.