Vietnam sympathised with the Japanese Government and people over losses sparked by fresh consecutive earthquakes, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh has said.

“We offer our condolences to the families of the victims and strongly believe that with their efforts and willpower, the Japanese Government and people will shortly overcome this difficult moment and stabilise the situation,” the diplomat said on April 16.

Two powerful earthquakes a day apart shook southwestern Japan, killing at least 29 people and injuring 1,500.

Rescuers bringing a person out of a collasped house

On April 14, the southwestern island of Kyushu was hit by a magnitude 6.5 quake that left 10 dead. Early on April 16, a magnitude 7.3 quake shook Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu, costing the lives of 19 people.

Regarding Vietnamese citizens living in Japan, Binh quoted the Vietnam Embassy in Japan and the Consul General in Fukuoka as saying that they have yet to receive any information about Vietnamese casualties in these quakes.

Vietnam’s representative offices in Japan are working closely with local relevant agencies and are designing support plans when needed, he said.

The Embassy and the Consul General of Vietnam in Japan established hotlines (+81) 80 3590 9136, (+81) 80 3984 6668 and (+81) 80 3904 0198 to receive updated news related to Vietnamese nationals in the quakes.

Source: VNA