Large Earthquake Brings Chaos to Hokkaido
Human Toll and Power Panic
The throbbing shock of a 6.7‑magnitude quake on Thursday left 44 dead and 660 injured across northern Japan. With the island’s power grid still on a meat‑loaf, even Toyota’s production line had to pause.
- About 2,500 people remain in evacuation centres.
- Landslides buried homes and weekend rains loosened soil, threatening more shaking‑prone houses.
- Power outages covered an area roughly the size of Austria.
Government & Army Roll Out the Red Carpet
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s spokesperson, spilled the beans that a 40,000‑strong army‑firefighter‑police coalition has been clearing the rubble with heroic gusto. “There are no more missing folks,” the spokesman said with a sigh of relief.
Power‑Saving Campaign Goes Live
With most of the grid up and running, trade minister Hiroshige Seko urged residents and businesses to cut electricity usage by 20% to keep the lights glowing. “It’s a team effort—government, citizens, and suppliers—we’re all on the same beach now, swanning it out, not sinking,” he said at a weekend news brief.
Tokyo’s Car Factory in a Squeeze
Toyota dropped the instruments of death—production—at 16 of its 18 Japanese assembly plants, but is pulling its parts factory in Tomakomai back into the groove at night. Full resume comes by Thursday, with a steady ramp‑up starting Tuesday.
What’s Next?
- No “rolling blackouts” are in the works, despite the unfinished fossil fuel plant that fuels about half of the island.
- Officials keep you on your toes while the quake continues to ripple through society.
