Travel Alert September 2018: Earthquake in Japan
At least 44 fatalities were reported; a minimum of 660 people were injured; and others are reported missing as a result of a major earthquake which rocked the Hokkaido area of Japan at 3:07:58 in the morning on Thursday, September 6, 2018 and measured on the Richter scale as a magnitude of 6.6.
Travel Alert September 2018: Earthquake in Japan
The earthquake occurred approximately 27 kilometers — or almost 16.78 miles — east of Tomakomai in Japan, which resulted in landslides.
According to the official Facebook Internet web site of Shinzō Abe — who is the current prime minister of Japan:
There are many people in the disaster-stricken areas of Hokkaido who are now living difficult lives in evacuation shelters. Again today I received various requests, including about supplying fuel, restoring the water supply, ensuring the supply of electricity, and providing all possible financial assistance. We will respond to these requests one and then another. Just now I convened a meeting of relevant ministers and I instructed everyone to further enhance their hands-on approaches and make all-out efforts to assist the disaster victims. We will do everything in our power as we stay mindful of the needs of the disaster victims now having an uneasy time. We will do our very best to rebuild people’s daily lives at the earliest possible time.
Other reports via Twitter document some of the damage:
Aerial photo of a #landslide along a long ridge in Atsuma town, #Hokkaido after a magnitude 6.7 #earthquake at 3:07 A.M. local time on 6 Sept 2018 that crushed homes & knocking out power in several areas across the island – Source: Kyodo News/AP pic.twitter.com/t0ojcHOyYF
— jaime s. sincioco (@jaimessincioco) September 6, 2018
A powerful earthquake that rocked Hokkaido early this morning has triggered landslides, caused widespread damage and left the whole of Japan's northern island prefecture without power. pic.twitter.com/MSpBoTlBNm
— NHK WORLD News (@NHKWORLD_News) September 6, 2018
Flight Waivers, Delays and Cancellations
If you are traveling to or from the Hokkaido area or elsewhere in the region over the next few days, expect possible delays and cancellations of flights. Keep up to date on the latest information pertaining to these earthquakes which may adversely affect your travel plans — especially due to aftershocks.
If you have a flight scheduled, your flight may be delayed or canceled — and you may be eligible for a waiver of a fee to change your itinerary. If you are driving in any of the affected areas, watch out for traffic problems due to crumbled infrastructure — some bridges and highways were closed as a precautionary measure — although travel by train seems to be unaffected.
Here are four airlines which have issued travel alerts as a result of the earthquake:
- American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Sapporo Chitose for Thursday, September 6, 2018 through Wednesday, September 12, 2018; and Friday, September 14, 2018 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Hawaiian Airlines has issued a travel alert for Sapporo Chitose for Friday, September 7, 2018 through Wednesday, September 12, 2018; and Friday, September 14, 2018 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Cathay Pacific Airways has issued a travel alert for Sapporo Chitose for Thursday, September 6, 2018 through Saturday, September 8, 2018; and Saturday, October 6, 2018 is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.
- Japan Airlines is offering travel waivers to and from Sapporo Chitose and other regional airports on a per-flight basis.
Summary
Be sure to contact your airline or transportation provider for the latest information pertaining to your travels — if they are adversely affected — and please: travel safely.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Hokkaido area.
Source: The United States Geological Survey.
