By MOOK Scenic Spots Family compiled report
A powerful earthquake has hit Hokkaido, Japan, causing severe damage, with all major Japanese media outlets reporting the emergency. (Screen capture from TV)
Due to prolonged power outages, mobile phones became unusable, leading to many communication issues. NTT East Japan announced that all 5,800 public telephones in Hokkaido are now free of charge. Many tourists were woken up in their sleep and rushed to hotel lobbies for shelter. Convenience store food and water were sold out rapidly.
Hokkaido has urgently set up 400 shelters, accommodating at least 3,700 evacuees.
The damage from the Hokkaido earthquake continues to worsen, with the death toll rising and the number of evacuees exceeding 3,700.
All flights at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido have been canceled, with some diverted to Hakodate Airport. Railway services have also been affected and suspended. Those planning to visit Hokkaido soon should pay close attention to flight updates and local disaster conditions.