Hokkaido Shakes and Surprises: A Weekend of Earthquake Shenanigans
What Went Down (and Who)’s Been Missing?
The people of northern Japan’s Hokkaido island were jolted at 3:08 am local time by a 6.7‑magnitude quake that sent a hillside rolling like a giant bowling ball. At least 19 folks vanished into the rubble and 120 were hurt—most got bruises, some were trapped in their homes. A heart‑stopping moment when a stairwell collapse triggered a cardiac arrest, but no confirmed deaths as of the latest check‑in.
First‑Hand Finger‑On‑The Pulse
- “It was a vertical quake—sudden, hard, terrifying!” shared a Sapporo shopkeeper with shaking hands on national TV.
- A horse‑whipped sixth‑floor balcony rattled the windows of an Sapporo resident who watched the tremor for a full half‑minute.
Power Plays: Blackouts and a Tik‑Tok‑enabled “Do‑Not‑Turn‑On‑The‑Cable”
Hokkaido Electric Power pulled the plug on all its fossil‑fuel plants, causing widespread power outages. The chief’s spokesperson said restoring electricity to 2.95 million households was “in progress,” but a “lack of a clear timeline” left many lights flickering—or not flickering at all.
Off‑Line Airports and a Typhoon Combo‑Crime
New Chitose Airport’s roof tiles looped in a watery swirl, prompting the closure that day. Meanwhile, Kansai, a prime semiconductor hub, took a break due to a fierce typhoon earlier in the week. Prime Minister Abe aired hope for a commuter runway return by Friday.
Earthquake Energy and the Rage of the Aftershock Rainbow
USGS pegged the epicenter on a 68‑km stretcher slung southeast of Sapporo. Japan Meteorological Agency declared a zero tsunami risk and warned residents to stay on toes for the subsequent 5.4‑magnitude shock and other B-Quakes.
High Shots: Rescue Forces, Fluons, and Safety X‑Tricks
Self‑Defense Forces queued 4,000 troops for rescue, promising to bring the number to 25,000. The Tomari Nuclear Power Station cooled fuel rods with emergency power, and the plant reported no stray radiation. Meanwhile, a Mitsubishi steel factory had a brief flare—quickly doused, no injuries.
Why This All Matters (Because we’re a Ring‑of‑Fire Community)
Japan sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire”—about 20% of global 6+ quakes erupt in its backyard. The 2011 9.0 giant and its nuclear drama still echo in muscle memory. The Great Kanto 1923 quake, grazing Tokyo’s skyline, still looms as a ghost that can pop up unannounced.
