According to Wisma Putra, no Malaysians have been reported to be involved or unduly affected by a massive earthquake that shook the central part of Japan on Monday (Dec 1). The Foreign Ministry extended its deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims and families affected by the earthquake, as well as to the people and government of Japan. Wisma Putra stated that as of the most recent report, no Malaysians have been reported to be involved or affected by the earthquake. Malaysians in the affected areas are advised to remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and advice issued by the local authorities.
The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, triggered tsunami warnings along coastal regions of western Japan. A tsunami around 1m high struck parts of the coast along the Sea of Japan with a larger wave expected. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama, marking the first major warnings since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan.
The Foreign Ministry also noted that via its embassy in Tokyo, they were closely monitoring developments in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the central and west coast of Japan. “Malaysians in the affected areas are advised to remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and advice issued by the local authorities,” added the statement.
Malaysians requiring consular assistance can contact the Malaysian embassy in Tokyo at: Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo, Address: 20-16, Nanpeidai-cho, Shibuya-ku,150-0036 Tokyo. They can also reach contact the embassy at: +81-3-3476-3840 or +8180-3913-3840 (emergency). The embassy can also be reached via email at: [email protected]/[email protected].
Images carried by Japanese media showed a building collapsing in a plume of dust in the coastal city of Suzu and a huge crack in a road in Wajima where panicked-looking parents clutched their children. The quake also jolted buildings in the capital Tokyo, some 500km from Wajima on the opposite coast.
