Japan Rocked by Powerful Quake

T O K Y O, Oct. 6, 2000 -- Japan’s strongest earthquake in fiveyears shook broad swaths of western regions today, injuringat least 12 people, destroying around two dozen homes and puttingthe region on alert for aftershocks.

The earthquake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, struck ataround 1:30 p.m. (0430 GMT), with its epicenter some sixmiles underground in largely rural western Tottori prefecture.

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori told reporters at his officialresidence that there had been no deaths so far and that he didnot plan to set up an emergency task force.

“We believe that the quake has not caused any large number ofcasualties or any huge damage,” Tadao Ando, head of thegovernment’s crisis management team, told a news conference.

12 Injured

Police said at least 12 people were injured, including twoafter a Shinto shrine collapsed and one person who was taken tohospital with cuts from flying glass. About 24 homes weredestroyed, the police said.

Two people were rescued after being buried by landslides attwo construction sites in Shimane prefecture on the coast of theSea of Japan, a police spokesman said.

He said casualty figures for the region were likely toincrease as more details emerged.

Strongest Quake Since Kobe

The quake was Japan’s strongest since January 17, 1995, whena devastating quake killed more than 6,000 people and caused hugedamage in the western port city the Kobe.

Rural areas were among the hardest hit by today’s tremor,although the impact could even be felt in parts of Tokyo, about360 miles east of the worst-hit areas.

“I’ve never experienced such a strong earthquake in my life,”a woman in Yonago told NTV. “I run a beauty parlor and I grabbeda customer and held onto her and we both crouched on the floor.”

The Meteorological Agency said there was a 40 percent chanceof aftershocks measuring more than six on the Richter scalewithin a day.

“I felt a big jolt and then there was shaking for at least 10seconds and I couldn’t stand up,” said one NHK reporter.

Dispatched to the Scene

The Defense Agency, Japan’s military, said it had sent onereconnaissance plane and a helicopter to the area and F-15fighter planes were dispatched to collect data on the impact ofthe quake.

Japan’s coastguard also joined in emergency operations,dispatching 19 aircraft and 50 patrol boats.

Kenji Matsumoto, an official at the city of Sakai Minato inTottori prefecture where damage appeared to be the worst, toldNHK at least seven homes were destroyed and four others damaged.Water mains, roads and highways in the city suffered damage, butthere was no report of casualties, he said.

Shinkansen bullet train services were halted betweenToyohashi in Aichi prefecture, central Japan, and Shin-Iwakuni inYamaguchi prefecture, western Japan, and some smaller airportswere closed for checks.

Bullet train service between Tokyo and the western metropolisof Osaka was temporarily halted but later resumed.

Nuke Plants Shut Down

An electric power industry association official said noimpact was reported on nuclear power plants in the area becausethey were shut for maintenance.

The tremor shook Japan’s Suzuka race track, where thepenultimate Formula One race of the season takes place on Sunday.Journalists at the circuit’s media center headed for the exits asthe building swayed.

No tidal wave warnings were issued.

Companies with factories in the region said they had sufferedno major damage, though some halted operations for inspection.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions,sitting atop the juncture of three tectonic plates, or pieces ofthe earth’s crust. Tens of thousands of quakes have jolted theIzu island chain south of Tokyo in recent months.