By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa has offered its deepest condolences to Japan following a series of deadly earthquakes experienced in the country’s west coast region.
The death toll from the quake, which affected a wide area around the Noto Peninsula region in Ishikawa prefecture, had reached 55 as of Tuesday night in Japan. Over 57,000 people have been evacuated, Japan’s Cabinet Office reports.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, offered South Africa’s sincere condolences to the government and people of Japan following a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the country’s west coast on 1 January 2024 at 16h00,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement on Wednesday.
“In the ensuing five hours following the earthquake, a swarm of approximately 30 earthquakes were reported throughout Japan.”
Pandor said that the government and people of South Africa’s prayers are with Japan, particularly the families who have lost their loved ones in the wake of the tragedy.
She further commended the tireless efforts of the rescue and emergency personnel participating in the ongoing rescue operation.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said his thoughts were with Japan, and that the U.S. “stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.”
“As close allies, the United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people,” he said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his thoughts were with “all those affected.”
“Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is a great friend of the U.K., and we stand ready to support Japan and are monitoring developments closely,” he said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed solidarity with Japan and offered assistance.