A powerful earthquake has rocked the city of Sapporo in northern Japan just hours after large parts of the south of the country was battered by the biggest typhoon to hit in 25 years.
The 6.6 magnitude quake hit the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early Thursday, triggering landslides, bringing down several houses, and killing at least eight persons.
No tsunami warning was issued after the quake.
Rescue workers search for survivors from a house damaged by a landslide caused by an earthquake in Atsuma town in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Yet another natural disaster has struck part of Japan, continuing a summer of chaos that has seen the country weather deadly floods, typhoons, earthquakes, landslides and heatwaves. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
At least eight people have been killed when a magnitude-6.8 quake struck the northern island of Hokkaido early Thursday, causing landslides which buried a "large" number of homes at the foot of a ridge. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
Flights and public transport across the region have been brought to a standstill. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
Nearly 3 million households lost power, according to the Hokkaido Electric Power Company. Officials said a main power station lost operations, affecting other sites. Independently owned power generators were assisting. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
The powerful quake lasted almost a minute, jolting residents from their beds and collapsing roads. Near the epicenter, landslides wiped out houses in the tiny town of Atsuma, home to 40 residents. Officials told NHK at least five people were buried in the rubble. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
Officials warned of the risk of further quakes. An official said that the risk of housing collapses and landslides had increased in the area hit by the quake. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
More than 4,000 defense force soldiers have been deployed to help with rescue operations, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, and that number could rise to 25,000 if needed. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
Thursday's earthquake comes as much of Japan is still dealing with the effects of Typhoon Jebi, the strongest such storm to hit the Japanese mainland in 25 years. Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters
