(Daily Point0 — Following a powerful earthquake in Japan with a magnitude of 7.6, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Japan, Raza Bashir Tarar, has confirmed the safety of all Pakistanis in the affected regions.
The ambassador established contacts with the diaspora community and announced the setup of a hotline for Pakistanis facing difficulties.
The earthquake, which struck on Monday, prompted evacuation warnings, power outages, and disruptions to flights and rail services in the affected region. The quake’s epicenter triggered tsunami warnings in coastal prefectures like Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama.
The Pakistan Embassy urged expatriates in these areas to follow local administration instructions and assured them that the Pakistani consulate in Tokyo is closely monitoring the situation. A tweet from the embassy conveyed prayers for protection, saying, “May Allah (SWT) keep us all in His protection. Aa’meen.”
The earthquake caused waves of approximately one meter along parts of the Sea of Japan coast, with authorities still assessing the damage. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida advised residents to remain vigilant for possible aftershocks and urged those in tsunami-prone areas to evacuate promptly.
NHK footage showed buildings collapsing in Suzu, and residents in Kanazawa sought shelter under tables during the tremors. Power outages affected over 36,000 households in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, while high-speed rail services to Ishikawa were suspended.
Telecom disruptions were reported by Softbank and KDDI in Ishikawa and Niigata. Japanese airlines ANA and Japan Airlines adjusted flight services to affected airports, and the Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed no irregularities at nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan.
The earthquake and tsunami brought back memories of the devastating events on March 11, 2011, in northeastern Japan, emphasizing the need for preparedness and caution in the face of natural disasters.