Following a series of potent earthquakes that struck central Japan on Monday, January 1, the Embassy of India in Japan has taken proactive steps to ensure the safety of Indian citizens residing in the Japanese archipelago. They have established a dedicated control room and released emergency contact numbers for immediate assistance.
The seismic activity in Japan registered at least 21 earthquakes within a 90-minute timeframe, with all tremors measuring above 4.0 on the Richter scale. The most intense quake recorded a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, prompting heightened concerns.
In response, the Indian Embassy in Japan has publicized essential contact numbers for Indian nationals requiring assistance. These include:
+81-80-3930-1715 (Mr. Yakub Topno) +81-70-1492-0049 (Mr. Ajay Sethi) +81-80-3214-4734 (Mr. D.N. Barnwal) +81-80-6229-5382 (Mr. S. Bhattacharya) +81-80-3214-4722 (Mr. Vivek Rathee)
Additionally, Indian citizens in Japan can seek help via the following email addresses:
sscons.tokyo@mea.gov.in offfseco.tokyo@mea.gov.in
The situation in Japan escalated further as the Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami alerts, urging immediate evacuation from seaside areas along the country's western coastline. Quakes were reported off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby regions, with one initially registering a magnitude of 7.6.
An elevated tsunami warning was issued for Ishikawa, while lower-level warnings or advisories were issued for the broader western coast of Japan's main island, Honshu. Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned of potential tsunami waves reaching heights of up to 5 meters (16.5 feet), advising people to seek higher ground or the tops of nearby buildings promptly.
NHK emphasized the possibility of recurrent tsunami waves and continued to broadcast warnings more than two hours after the initial alert. Furthermore, several aftershocks continued to jolt the affected region, heightening the sense of urgency and concern.
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