On the morning of Sept. 6 after an earthquake measuring 7 on the Japanese seismic scale struck Hokkaido, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued the following instructions and gave the following statement to reporters:

Prime Minister’s Instructions

• Immediately ascertain the status of the damage
• Coordinate closely with local governments and join together as one to make utmost efforts to respond to the disaster, including rescuing and assisting victims
• Take thorough measures to prevent the damage from spreading

Prime Minister’s Statement

I have received reports of damage from the recent earthquake, including cases of cardiac arrest, landslides, destroyed buildings, and a blackout over a wide area. The government is working as one to take every measure to respond to the disaster, placing the highest priority on human lives. We are responding fully to manage the crisis.