Many Vietnamese people in Japan pray that there will be no casualties in the earthquake, but also know that in a disaster, that is unavoidable.
Japanese TV broadcasts warnings in Vietnamese about earthquakes. Photo: Facebook Vietnamese in Japan
On the first day of the new year 2024, Japan suffered a 7.4-magnitude earthquake. At the time of the earthquake, Ms. Phuong Thuy's family (living in Nagano) and some friends were skiing on the mountain. Ms. Thuy said that although her place was not the epicenter of the earthquake and only shook, for her, it was the first time she clearly felt what an earthquake was like. "I was really scared! The Vietnamese sisters were a bit scared so they hid under the table, while the Japanese people around them still sat calmly as if nothing happened. A bit embarrassed, but really scared" - Ms. Thuy said. "Luckily the shaking stopped after about 5 minutes. The fear passed quickly. But watching TV, I saw people in Ishikawa province fleeing on the first day of the year because of a big tsunami warning, houses collapsing, and it was heartbreaking! I prayed that there would be no casualties, but in a disaster, that is unavoidable" - Ms. Thuy said. Luckily, Ms. Thuy's family was safe. “I don’t expect much for the New Year, I just wish everyone good health and peace,” Thuy said. Tuyet Ngan and Hoang Minh said that their house in Kanto had no problems, but when they went out to play in a building in Odaiba, they felt a slight shaking. On the Facebook groups “Vietnamese Community in Japan” and “Vietnamese in Japan”, many accounts posted images 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 4:27 p.m. local time, a volcanic eruption occurred at Suwanosejima (Ontake volcano) in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. I hope you are safe and healthy.” Another user said: “Wonderful: Japanese TV issued warnings in Vietnamese to help Vietnamese people living in Japan know how to protect their lives.” The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that upon hearing the news of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture and the surrounding areas in central Japan, causing great loss of life and property, on January 2, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message 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 find survivors of the earthquake. The Japanese government has dispatched 3,000 police, military and firefighters from across the country to the quake zone. At least 48 people have been confirmed dead as of Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for Ishikawa Prefecture confirmed to CNN. The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted all tsunami warnings along parts of the country's western coast, but more than 24 hours after the quake struck, access to the northern part of the remote Noto Peninsula remains restricted. 
Roads cracked after the earthquake. Photo: Facebook Vietnamese people in Japan
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on January 2 after an emergency meeting on the disaster that a damaged road had cut off access to the area. Officials flew by helicopter over the peninsula, known for its coastal and rural scenery, and reported seeing damaged roads, landslides and large fires. “To secure access there, we have mobilized all means of transport, not only by land but also by air and sea. We have been working to move goods, supplies and personnel there since last night,” Kishida said. More than 35 aftershocks measuring 2.5 or more have occurred near the epicenter of the quake in Japan in the past 24 hours, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Among them, one was 6.0 or more, 12 were 5.0 or more and 22 were 4.0 or more. Aftershocks could last for months, USGS seismologists warn.Laodong.vn
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