Flights cancelled as powerful earthquake rocks Hokkaido

At least nine people have been killed and 30 are missing after a powerful earthquake rocked the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The magnitude-6.7 quake triggered landslides, trapping people in their homes and leaving 3 million without electricity.

The main airport in the region, New Chitose Airport sustained extensive damage from the quake and will remain closed for the day, adding to Japan’s travel disruptions after Kansai airport was damaged by a typhoon earlier this week.

The airport has advised that travellers should contact their airline for more information.

51 helicopters have been deployed and 25,000 Self Defence Force officers are trying to reach the worst affected areas, according to the ABC.

The island, best known to tourists for its powder snow and Niseko ski resort, is characterised by steep terrain, making it prone to landslides.

This was added to by the typhoon which swept through Japan earlier this week, bringing heavy rains to the area and loosening the terrain.

Aerial footage showed the impact of a landslide in the rural town of Atsumi,

The quake struck at around 3:00 am local time and measured at around six on the Shindo intensity scale, which means it would have been impossible to remain standing or move without crawling.

“The mountain slid down, I had no idea what had happened,” a woman at an evacuation centre said, according to the ABC.

“When it became brighter I was surprised to see the view — I couldn’t believe it.

“Something unbelievable was happening.”

A series of smaller shocks, one measuring at a magnitude of 5.4, followed the quake and officials have warned residents to expect more major aftershocks in the coming days.