17 August 2005 – Consul General Claro S. Cristobal of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, confirmed to the Department of Foreign Affairs that no Filipinos have been reported injured or killed in the strong earthquake that hit northeastern Japan yesterday morning.

Consul General Cristobal informed the Department that “the Embassy conferred with Japanese authorities and with the Filipino associations in the earthquake stricken areas and established that as of today (17 August 2005) no Philippine national is in the list of fatalities or injured.”   The earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale hit the northeastern Japanese prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima at 11:46 a.m. yesterday.  The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning alert that was later lifted, but warned of the possibility of landslides or aftershocks.

Consul General Cristobal added that at least 27 people were reported injured in the city of Sendai, capital of Miyagi prefecture.  Immediately after the earthquake, Consul General Cristobal said the Embassy quickly coordinated with the International Exchange Section of the Miyagi Prefecture and was informed that no Filipinos were reported injured.

Consul General Cristobal assured the Department that the Embassy will continue its coordination with Japanese authorities, and provide assistance to all Filipino nationals that may be affected by the earthquake. END