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Kumamoto Earthquakes
Japan National Tourism Organization
Updated: April 18, 2016, 18:00 JST
On April 14th, 2016 at 9:26 pm (Local Time), a strong earthquake
(Magnitude 6.5) occurred in the Kumamoto area of Kyushu, followed
by the second one (Magnitude 7.3) on April 16th, 2016 at 1:25
am.
Advisory from the Japan Meteorological Agency:
Seismic activity in the Kumamoto prefecture and Oita prefecture
areas in Kyushu is still ongoing. There is concern about buildings
and houses collapsing, and landslides may occur. Remain aware of
your surroundings and exercise caution regarding earthquakes as
well as rainy weather, as the combination can be hazardous.
Transportaion
1)Airport (as of April 18, 18:00 JST)
Kumamoto Airport
All flights to and from the Kumamoto Airport are cancelled on April
18 due to the damage of terminal building.
All the other airports in
Kyushu are in operation.
http://www.kmj-ab.co.jp/eng/
2)Trains (as of April 18, 18:00 JST)
JR Kyushu
- Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo) is NOT running.
- Limited Express other than Shinkansen, D/S Trains
The following trains are CANCELLED on April 18:
* "Ariake"(Omuta - Nagasu)
* "A-Train" "ASOBOY!" "Isaburo /Shinpei" "Kyushu Odan Tokkyu"
* "B&S Miyazaki"(bus)
The others are normal
operation
- Local Line
Service is SUSPENDED in the following sections at the moment:
* Kagoshima Line (Kumamoto - Yatsushiro)
* Hohi Line (Kumamoto - Bungotakeda)
* Hisatsu Line (Yatsushiro - Yoshimatsu)
* Misumi Line (Uto - Misumi)
Trains are RUNNING WITH a REDUCED NUMBER OF SERVICES in the
following sector:
* Kagoshima Line (Tosu - Kumamoto)
Operation schedules may change subject to weather condition.
Minamiaso Railways
Service is SUSPENDED in its entire line at the moment.
Hisatsu Orange Railways
Service is SUSPENDED in the following section at the monent:
* Higokouda - Yatsushiro
Kumagawa Rail Road
Normal operation.
JR Kyushu : https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/trains/unkou.jsp
(Japanese only)
JR Kyushu : http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/news/news_list.jsp
(English, Korean, Chinese)
(*)Please note that the update time may be different in above
site.
Minamiaso Railway : http://www.mt-torokko.com/
(Japanese only)
Hisatsu Orange Railways : http://www.hs-orange.com/
(Japanese only)
Kumagawa Rail Road : http://www.kumagawa-rail.com/
(Japanese only)
3)JR Kyushu Jet Ferry (as of April 18, 18:00 JST)
Normal operation
JR Kyushu : https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/trains/unkou.jsp
(Japanese only)
4)Expressways (as of April 18, 18:00 JST)
The following sectors are CLOSED at the moment:
* Kyushu Expressway (Ueki – Yatsushiro)
* Central Kyushu Expressway （Kashima JCT- Mashiki)
* Oita Expressway (Hiji JCT - Kusu)
* Eastern Kyushu Expressway (Hayami - Beppu)
http://ihighway.jp/pc/map/map.html?area_id=area_09
(Japanese only)
Sightseeing Spots
Kumamoto Castle (as of April 18, 18:00 JST)
Kumamoto Castle will be closed from April 15th 2016.
https://www.facebook.com/KumamotoCastle
JNTO Tourist Information Center
JNTO Tourist Information Center (TIC), open daily from 9:00am to
5:00pm, offers travel information in English, Chinese, Korean and
Japanese for visitors in Japan.
Tel:03-3201-3331
Due to the earthquakes in Kumamoto, JNTO.TIC telephone service will
also operate during the nighttime hours. (from 5:00 pm to 9:00
am)
Service is available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/travel/guide/tic.html
"Safety tips", a push-enabled information alert app for foreign
tourists
This push-enabled smartphone app gives alerts for Earthquake Early
Warning, Tsunami Warning, and other Weather Warning within Japan in
English, Japanese, Hangul, Traditional Chinese and Simplified
Chinese.
The app provides various functions useful for both foreign tourists
and residents in Japan, such as Evacuation flowchart showing
actions to be taken in the light of surrounding circumstances,
Communication Card for obtaining information from people nearby,
and Website Links that contain helpful information in the event of
a disaster.
Download the application from the following link.
Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.rcsc.safetyTips.android
iPhone : https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/safety-tips/id858357174?mt=8
Safety tips for travelers
Japan Travel Agency's "Safety tips for travelers" provides
information to ensure safe travel for foreign tourists visiting
Japan.
The site contains links to other sites controlled by third-party
information providers on weather information, weather warning &
advisories, news, medical information, and list of embassies and
consulates-generals in Japan.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/pc/