Japan quake after typhoon: Bangladeshis safe, hotline launches

Staff Correspondent: A powerful 6.7-magnitude quake rocked the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido Thursday, killing at least seven people, collapsing homes, and triggering landslides that left dozens missing.

Multiple, large-scale landslides struck the sparsely populated countryside, which was also hit by the edge of a powerful typhoon that surged through Japan earlier this week.

However, no Bangladesh national has yet not been reported to be victimized in the natural disaster.

Md Shiplu Zaman, second secretary (press) at Bangladesh High Commission in Japan, confirmed the news.

He said, “Till now, we have not found any news of Bangladesh national killing in the incident. The Embassy has launched two helplines (+ 81-80-40656601 or + 81-80-44561971). Authorities requested all Bangladeshis resident in the affected area to contact on the helplines for any support.”

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded.

In June, a deadly tremor rocked the Osaka region, killing five people and injuring over 350.

On March 11, 2011, a devastating 9.0-magnitude quake struck under the Pacific Ocean, and the resulting tsunami caused widespread damage and claimed thousands of lives.

risingbd/Dhaka/September 06, 2018/Hassan/A K Azad