At least 8 dead in Japan quake

TOKYO: A 6.6-magnitude quake rocked the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido yesterday, killing at least eight people while collapsing houses and triggering landslides that left dozens missing.

Multiple large landslides struck the sparsely populated countryside, which was also hit by the edge of Typhoon Jebi that ripped through Japan earlier this week.

About three million houses lost power after the quake damaged a major thermal plant supplying the region.

The Tomari nuclear power plant in Hokkaido, that was not operational before t he quake, was f orced t o t urn t o emergency back-up power to keep its cooling system working.

Moments after the initial quake, an aftershock measuring 5.3 rocked the area and dozens more aftershocks followed throughout the night and into the morning.

However, no tsunami warning was issued after the relatively shallow quake, that struck 62km southeast of the regional capital Sapporo.

Some 20,000 rescue workers, including police and members of the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) were responding to the disaster, with another 20,000 SDF troops expected to join the effort.

“We will do our best to save lives,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said after an emergency Cabinet meeting.

NHK reported six of t he eight casualties were from the village of Atsuma, where a landslide engulfed a cluster of houses. Nearly 40 people were reported missing, the broadcaster added.

Officials have warned of the danger of fresh quakes. – AFP