Catastrophic aftermath exceeds initial estimates in Japanese earthquake
In a shocking turn of events, a powerful earthquake hit Japan's Nagano prefecture on Saturday night. The quake, which occurred west of Nagano city, had a revised magnitude of 6.7 and struck at a depth of 5 kilometers.
The epicentre of the earthquake was located in a mountainous area that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. The hardest-hit area was in the mountains and sparsely populated, where neighbors have a close relationship and help each other.
The disaster has left a trail of destruction in its wake. At least 43 homes were destroyed in Hakuba, a ski resort village that hosted events in the 1998 winter games. Seventeen people were injured in Hakuba, and seven homes were lost in Otari, a nearby village to the north. Across the region, 41 people were injured, with seven suffering serious injuries, mostly broken bones.
Thankfully, there haven't been any reported deaths, according to Shigeharu Fujimori, a Nagano prefecture disaster management official. Japanese television showed police going house to house Sunday morning, calling out to make sure that inhabitants were accounted for. About 200 people from Hakuba and Otari had evacuated to shelters.
The earthquake also caused a landslide that spilled onto a railroad track, forcing service to stop. However, no abnormalities were reported at three nuclear power plants in the affected areas. Chubu Electric Power Co. reported 200 homes remained without power on Sunday.
The quake has been followed by more than 60 aftershocks, and Meteorological Agency official Yohei Hasegawa urged residents to watch out for landslides. Shinkansen bullet train service in the region was restored after a short interruption.
Japanese television footage showed buildings in various states of collapse, some flattened and others leaning to one side, and deep cracks in the roads. Ryo Nishino, a restaurant owner in Hakuba, reported that the earthquake was the strongest he had ever experienced.
Despite the extensive damage, the region in Japan that suffered the most severe damage on Sunday from the earthquake is not explicitly mentioned in the available search results. The authorities are working tirelessly to assess the situation and provide aid to those affected.
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