Osaka earthquake: Aftershocks continuing but transportation network resumed

On Monday dozens of domestic flights in and out of Osaka were grounded, while train and subway service in the Osaka area, including bullet trains, was suspended to check for damage. Passengers exited trains on the tracks between stations.

International airlines including US based Hawaiian Airlines waved cancellation fees for flights to Osaka.

On Tuesday bullet trains and some local trains resumed operation in Osaka, but thousands of commuters walked home after Monday’s strong earthquake in Western Japan affecting the metropolitan city of Osaka.

Tremors believed to be aftershocks of Monday’s major earthquake have rattled the western Japanese prefecture of Osaka throughout Tuesday as well.

The magnitude-6.1 quake hit before 8 AM on Monday in northern Osaka. On Japan’s seismic intensity scale of zero to seven, it’s categorized as a six-minus. The quake left 4 people dead and at least 376 injured.

Agency officials are warning of the growing risk of landslides or building collapse in the hardest-hit areas. They are calling on people to stay alert for further seismic activity in the next week or so.

Some subway service resumed in the afternoon, but stations remained crowded with passengers waiting for trains to restart, many of them sitting on the floor. Long lines of people waited to board bullet trains as they resumed operation.