Indonesian Embassy in Japan to Account For Indonesian Nationals After Earthquake

TOKYO, KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian Embassy in Japan is continuing its efforts to account for Indonesian nationals in the country, after a 7.2 Richter scale earthquake struck the Japanese Prefecture of Miyagi, triggering a one-meter tsunami warning.

No casualties or damages were reported in the disaster, which occurred at a depth of 60 kilometers off Miyagi on Saturday, March 20 at 6:09 pm, local time.

“The Indonesian Embassy in Japan has contacted organizations for Indonesian nationals [in Miyagi prefecture] to see how they are doing,” said Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi in a press release.

He added that he has yet to receive any reports of Indonesian casualties or material damages incurred during the earthquake.

Also read: 6.2 Richter Scale Earthquake Hits Indonesia's West Sulawesi Province

Nonetheless, Heri “urged Indonesian citizens affected by the disaster to call the hotline provided by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo. We also call on them to remain calm and comply with the local authorities.”

Heri noted that the embassy has been getting information from Japanese media reports as well as information from the public. 984 Indonesian are known to live in the Miyagi Prefecture, which is located in northern Japan.

The Japan Meteorology Agency issued the tsunami warning after the tremors shook Miyagi, but withdrew the warning afterwards. according to NHK, the earthquake caused mass panic, prompting thousands of people to head to higher ground inland.

Miyagi was also struck by a strong earthquake that wounded dozens of people.

Also read: Series of Earthquakes Rattles Indonesia

The Japanese Nuclear Radiation Authority has not reported damages to the Onagawa nuclear power plant as well as smaller nuclear facilities, including an experimental reactor, or the defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

However, the disaster shut down a number of public facilities, among Japan’s vaunted shinkansen or bullet trains.

The disaster occurred 10 years after a 9 Richter scale earthquake struck Japan on March 11 2011, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 18 thousand people and causing a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant as other damage.

Like Indonesia, Japan is also located in the Indo-Pacific ring of fire, making the country vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis.

(Writers/Editors: Bernadette Aderi Puspaningrum, Aditya Jaya Iswara)

Sources: 

https://www.kompas.com/global/read/2021/03/20/185206170/gempa-m-72-jepang-berpotensi-tsunami-kbri-tokyo-pantau-kondisi-wni. 

https://www.kompas.com/global/read/2021/03/20/174105170/gempa-jepang-m-72-di-miyagi-peringatan-tsunami-1-meter-tak-ada-korban?page=all#page2.