TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan stands ready to provide assistance if requested by Japan following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said.
The Cabinet’s special search and rescue team has been placed on standby and is ready to deploy if requested by Japanese authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also closely monitoring the situation and will assist Taiwanese nationals in Japan.
The quake struck Kumamoto on Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan on Tuesday afternoon, leaving at least 50 people hospitalized. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said preliminary reports indicated injuries, infrastructure damage, and fires in several areas, while authorities continued to assess the full extent of the impact, according to DW.
Cho said Taiwan and Japan have a long history of mutual assistance in response to natural disasters. He expressed condolences to those affected by the earthquake.
Cho urged Taiwanese nationals in the region to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety. He also advised them to monitor updates from local authorities and follow evacuation instructions if necessary.
Cho noted that Japan had issued tsunami advisories for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Sea, with waves of up to around 1 meter possible. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the tsunami posed no threat to Taiwan, while tsunami warnings across the Pacific region had also been lifted.