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On September 6, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Earthquake with an Epicenter in Central and Eastern Iburi Region in Hokkaido Prefecture at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“We have confirmed many cases of injuries and damage caused by the recent earthquake of a maximum seismic intensity of 6 Upper, with an epicenter in Central and Eastern Iburi Region, including the cases of collapsed buildings and landslides in Atsuma Town. The police and fire departments are also receiving several reports of missing persons, collapsed buildings and landslides due to the earthquake.
 
Widespread power outages have occurred throughout Hokkaido, including Sapporo City.
 
The Government is advancing efforts to grasp the state of the damage and is working as one to address the situation based on a policy of putting people’s lives first.
 
On the ground, 4,000 self-defense force (SDF) personnel have already begun rescue operations. We plan to increase this to 25,000 personnel soon. SDF units, police departments, fire departments, and the Japan Coast Guard will exert every effort for rescue and relief.
 
There is no time to lose. I would like each of the Ministers to swiftly grasp the state of the damage and exert an all-out effort for the rescue and relief of those affected by the disaster, the evacuation of residents, and the restoration of lifelines, while working closely together with the affected municipalities and other related parties.”