6.6 magnitude earthquake causes havoc in Japan

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has caused widespread damage on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. 

Landslides were triggered, and power was lost to nearly all of three million households. CNN is reporting that at least seven are dead, and 150 others injured. No tsunami warning was issued.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Japanese broadcaster NHK, that saving lives was the government’s "utmost priority". Authorities have received hundreds of calls about missing people, and buildings collapsing.

The central government set up a crisis management task-force at the Prime Minister’s office.