Japan Earthquake: 6.1 Magnitude Quake Hits Osaka, 3 Feared Dead, Plants & Train Services Halted

Tokyo, June 18: A strong earthquake hit the city of Osaka in Japan on Monday morning. According to reports, a quake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck around 8 am. The initial strength of the earthquake was measured at 5.9. According to Japan Times, more than three people are dead, and several are left injured in it.

According to a report on Japan Times, a 9-year-old girl in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, was confirmed dead after being struck by a collapsing wall, while a senior man from Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, died after a bookshelf crushed him at his home. Several more are feared to be trapped inside the elevator at a train station.

The morning commute was disrupted as train and subway service in the Osaka area including the bullet train was suspended to check for damage to equipment. The weather agency has also issued a warning against landslides, asking people to remain cautious about the possible aftershocks for few days. The quake has left many commuters stranded on the roads during the morning rush hour. Plants across the area were halted to access the damage. Reportedly,  Honda Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. unit Daihatsu all stopped production at plants in the region.

According to an ANI report, some areas like Hyogo, Kyoto, Shiga, Nara are also affected. There are severe power shortage, and gas supply has also been disconnected due to the earthquake in many areas. Japan Meteorological Agency has said there is no tsunami warning issued till now. In 1995, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake killed more than 6,000 people when it struck in neighbouring Kobe area in Japan.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 18, 2018 08:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).