Vietnamese in Japan help each other with water bottles and instant noodles after the terrible earthquake

(Dan Tri) - Living at the epicenter of the earthquake, Pham Hoa said she experienced a feeling like "the end of the world". She was moved when she continuously received relief supplies from the Vietnamese community in Japan.

"Seeing people in trouble, I am ready to support" Four days since the 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook central Japan, with the epicenter in the Noto Peninsula (Ishikawa Prefecture), Vietnamese groups in Japan have continuously shared information about evacuation points, called for support and provided food supplies to their compatriots. On the morning of January 4, Mr. NT (31 years old) and his girlfriend drove from Kobe city where he lives to the earthquake-affected area of ​​Ishikawa Prefecture to deliver necessities to Vietnamese people in trouble. Without calling for help, he used his own money to buy more than 10 bottles of water and about 10 boxes of instant noodles. After that, he sent a message to the Vietnamese group in Ishikawa. If anyone needed help, they would send their information and address so he could come to them.

Mr. T. drove himself to the epicenter of the earthquake to support his fellow countrymen (Photo: Character provided).

Starting at 8:30 a.m., Mr. T. arrived at around 3 p.m. and began providing relief around Nanao and Wakura cities. Many roads were cracked, some were temporarily patched, and he tried to move slowly to avoid collisions. "The area I live in was not affected by the earthquake. Seeing people in trouble, I am willing to support them," he said that each bottle of water or packet of noodles was not worth much, and had no material value, hoping to encourage his fellow countrymen to overcome the difficult period. After meeting and talking with a few Vietnamese people, the young man breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that their lives were gradually stabilizing after the disaster. After distributing all the relief supplies, he quickly returned to Kobe city, taking a few hours to rest before work the next day.

Desolate streets after the earthquake (Photo: Character provided).

According to Reuters , as of January 4, the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan has killed more than 80 people and left 51 missing. Nearly 600 tremors appeared on the Noto peninsula afterwards. In Wajima and the neighboring city of Suzu, relief efforts were hampered by damaged roads and disrupted communications. Ms. Le Thi Thuong, President of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, said that the Vietnamese community in Osaka has prepared 500 gifts including banh chung, gio, water, hot pads, dry food, bread, etc. to support their compatriots. The group plans to transport the goods by truck and motorbike to isolated areas, and will set off on January 6 when authorities announce that the situation has stabilized. According to Ms. Huong, many Vietnamese people living in Ishikawa province are affected by a lack of water and food. Some individuals and organizations have gathered into support teams, finding ways (on foot or by motorbike) to reach heavily affected areas. "Many people in neighboring areas such as Toyama were also slightly affected. They went to the evacuation area on January 1 and 2 and have now returned home. They called for support for people in more severely affected areas," said Ms. Huong.

The supermarket was in disarray, with items scattered all over the floor (Photo: Character provided).

Cherish every bottle of water and packet of noodles Since the evening of January 3, Pham Thi Hoa (28 years old), living in the Noto peninsula - the epicenter of the earthquake, has continuously received relief supplies from the Vietnamese community and Japanese volunteer groups. Receiving each bottle of water, package of cereal, and dry food, she felt moved and grateful to those who did not hesitate to go to the epicenter of the earthquake to support. "If it weren't for the volunteer groups, I wouldn't know how to manage because I didn't have enough water," she said, adding that the Vietnamese groups also helped Indonesian and Myanmar trainees. The Vietnamese girl recalled the scene of the earthquake on the afternoon of January 1 as "the end of the world". Hoa quickly ran to a shelter at an elementary school near her home - a place that the company had previously instructed her. Here, she was given blankets, mattresses, water, and food by Japanese volunteers. After a night, she returned home, unable to believe the scene of collapsed roads and houses, supermarkets in disarray, and clean water cut off. Meanwhile, Thu Phuong said she was still living in fear because of the aftershocks that had not yet subsided in Wakura (Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture). "I slept in fear. Every time I heard the earthquake alarm, I jumped up and prepared to run out of the house," Phuong said it was the first time in her life she had witnessed such a terrible earthquake. Houses and electric poles shook violently as if they were about to collapse, the ground shook, the road cracked, she was extremely scared, thinking "this time it was over". She quickly evacuated to a nearby school, waited and reassured herself, and returned home at 8:30 p.m.

Many Vietnamese groups are ready to go to the epicenter to support their compatriots (Photo: Character provided).

Like Hoa, from the evening of January 3, Phuong began to receive inquiries and support from the Vietnamese community. In that moment, she thought that each bottle of water and package of noodles was more precious than anything. "In a foreign land, receiving the kindness of my fellow countrymen, I am truly grateful, I feel so lucky," Phuong said. The hotel where Phuong works was severely damaged, the company has not announced a return date. The Vietnamese girl knows that "she will be unemployed for a long time" because it will take a long time for Japan to recover from the disaster.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan said that there have been no reports of Vietnamese casualties due to the earthquake on January 1. In the context that the impact of the earthquake and aftershocks will continue in the coming days, the Embassy recommends that all Vietnamese citizens living, working and studying in Japan regularly monitor updated notices. Citizens should follow the instructions of Japanese authorities, move to shelters designated by local authorities, and continue to be vigilant to prevent the impact of aftershocks in the coming days. In case of emergency, needing support, citizens are requested to contact the citizen protection hotline: + Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo: +81-80-3590-9136, or +81-80-20346868, +81-90-1255-5537 + Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka: +81-90-4769-6789 + Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka: +81-92263-7668

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