On the first day of the new year 2024, Japan suffered a powerful earthquake of 7.4 on the Richter scale. At the time of the earthquake, the whole family of Ms. Phuong Thuy (living in Nagano) and some friends were on the mountain skiing. Ms. Thuy said that although her place was not shaken by the earthquake and only shaken, it was the first time she felt the earthquake clearly.
Real fear! Some Vietnamese women were a bit scared so they all went under the table, while the Japanese people around them still sat still as calm as nothing. A little shy, but really scared" - Ms. Thuy said.
"Fortunately, the shaking lasted about 5 minutes. The fear will soon pass. But watching TV saw that people in the new province of Ishikawa had to flee because of the big Tsunami warning, their houses collapsed and they were heartbroken! I have prayed for no casualties, but in the tragedy, that is inevitable" - Ms. Thuy said.
Fortunately, Ms. Thuy's family is still safe. "I don't expect much in the new year, I just wish everyone good health and peace" - Ms. Thuy expressed.
Ms. Tuyet Ngan and Mr. Hoang Minh said that there were no problems at their house in Kanto, however, when they were going out in a building in Odaiba, they felt a slight shakeup.
On the Facebook groups "Vietnamese Community in Japan" and "Vietnamese in Japan", many accounts posted photos of the earthquake taken by Vietnamese people, along with greetings and wishes for peace.
One user wrote: Right after the earthquake in Ishikawa, at around 16:37 local time, a volcanic explosion occurred in Suwanosejima ( volcano Ontake) in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. I hope you are safe and stay healthy.
Another user said: Forever: Japanese television issued a warning in Vietnamese to help Vietnamese people living in Japan know how to protect their lives.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, having heard about the earthquake that occurred in Ishikawa Province... and the vicinity of central Japan, causing great loss of life and property, on January 2, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a telegram of condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
On the same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent a message of condolences to Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko.
Meanwhile, Japan is racing against time to search and rescue survivors of the earthquake. 3,000 police, soldiers and firefighters from across the country were dispatched by the Japanese government to the earthquake area.
At least 48 people have been confirmed dead as of the afternoon of January 2 - a spokesman for Ishikawa province confirmed to CNN.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted all Tsunami warnings along the country's west coast, but access to the northern part of the remote Noto peninsula is still limited more than 24 hours after the earthquake.
On January 2, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that after an emergency meeting on natural disasters, a destroyed road had cut off the access to the area. Officials used helicopters to fly over the peninsula, which is famous for its coastal and rural scenery, and reported seeing damaged roads, landslides and major fires.
To ensure the route there, we must mobilize all means of transport, not only on land but also by air and sea. We have been trying to move goods, supplies and personnel there since last night, Prime Minister Kishida said.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), more than 35 aftershocks above 2.5 degrees richter occurred near the center of the earthquake in Japan in the past 24 hours.
Of these aftershocks, there was 1 aftershock above 6 degrees, 12 aftershocks above 5 degrees and above and 22 aftershocks above 4 degrees richter.
USGS seismologists warn that aftershocks may last for months.
