-19 people died in the disaster, 9 still missing
-100 aftershocks rattled the area as rescue workers search frantically for survivors
AMN
Rescue and relief measures are continuing in the earthquake hit Hokkaido region. Rescuers are continuing their search for survivors too.
Nineteen people died in the disaster and 9 remain missing. About 400 are injured.
According to NHK, the search effort is focused near the epicenter in the town of Atsuma.
The town is home to those who remain missing. Thursday’s quake measured the strongest possible level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, setting off massive landslides that wiped out homes.
More than 100 aftershocks have rattled the area as rescue workers search frantically for people who might be buried in the rubble.
The prefectural government says more than 11,000 people were taking shelter in 51 municipalities as of 11 AM on Saturday.
Public transportation is slowly returning to normal. New Chitose Airport resumed international flights on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile Hokkaido Electric Power Company says that 99 percent of the power supply has been restored across the quake-hit island prefecture in northern Japan.
The utility says that roughly 3 million kilowatts of electricity has been restored as of 2 AM Saturday for the first time since a strong earthquake hit the northern prefecture early Thursday morning.
Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko said on Friday that roughly 3.6 million kilowatts of electricity will be supplied on Saturday, and that power will be back on in all affected areas.