A severe earthquake struck Hokkaido, Japan, at 4:50 am on September 26, 2003. Epicenter of the earthquake was about 80km east-southeast of Erimo Cape, offshore of Tokachi. The depth of the epicenter was 42km, and its magnitude 8.0 (M JMA). This magnitude of the earthquake is 10 times as large as that of Kobe Earthquake. We immediately set up an ABS Consulting investigation team in the Tokyo office, and dispatched three engineers to Hokkaido. The members of the team arrived at the Chitose airport in the evening of the day that the earthquake occurred and started the post-earthquake inspection next morning.

In this earthquake, there was severe damage due to the Tsunami impact as well as the structure, port plants and lifeline damage due to strong shaking. Crustal change and ground deformation were observed over southeast area (Southern Obihiro - Kushiro) of Hokkaido, since the platform of Hokkaido located on the North-America plate was kicked back together with the release of the seismic energy.