(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is “closely monitoring the situation” of more than 800 Filipinos living in Yamagata Prefecture in Japan which had been hit by a magnitude 6.8 quake at around 10:30 p.m. (Japan time) Tuesday.
Through the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka, the DFA is closely checking if there were Filipinos affected by the strong quake that hit Yamagata, Northern Japan.
Based on embassy records, there are 815 registered Filipinos in Yamagata Prefecture.
“The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and the well-being of Filipinos in the area and is ready to assist as needed,” the DFA said in a statement.
“Both the Embassy and the Consulate General have also issued urgent advisories to Filipinos in the affected areas,” it said.
After the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami alert for Yamagata Prefecture as well as coastal areas in Niigata and Ishikawa Prefectures. But the tsunami warning was lifted as of 1 a.m. today for all affected areas.
Railway services were partly suspended and many households were without power following the strong quake.
The earthquake registered six on the Japanese scale, which goes up to a maximum of seven and was felt in the capital, which is more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) away.
The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 6.4.
At least 16 were injured in the quake, according to authorities.
