Japanese ambassador thanks India for ‘sincere condolences’ after devastating earthquake

Japan’s ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki has expressed his gratitude for ‘sincere condolences, prayers and warm encouragements’ after a devastating earthquake and a subsequent tsunami hit his country earlier this week.

“Dear friends in India, I am deeply grateful for so many sincere condolences, prayers and warm encouragements regarding the Noto(Neng Deng ) Earthquake in Japan,” the Japanese Ambassador said in a statement on social media platform X.

He remarked that the Japanese people value India’s support for Japan much during this difficult time.

In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi offered his sympathies to the families of the departed.

According to reports, Prime Minister Modi expressed his extreme sorrow and worry to the Japanese Prime Minister about the significant earthquake that devastated Japan on the first day of this year.

“I express my deepest condolence to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster. As a special strategic and global partner, India values its relationship with Japan, and is ready to extend all possible assistance at this hour,” PM Modi said in the letter.

According to Kyodo News, a huge earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 rocked the Noto Peninsula and neighbouring areas in central Japan on Monday, killing around 94 people. In the areas affected by the earthquake, search and rescue efforts are still hindered by the debris and broken roadways.

Ishikawa Prefecture’s Wajima city has had structural damage and fires as a result of the earthquake. The entire scope of the catastrophe brought on by the strong earthquake is still unknown, though.

More than twenty-four hours after the earthquake, access to the northern part of the isolated Noto Peninsula was prohibited. On Tuesday, however, the Meteorological Agency of Japan lifted all tsunami advisories along parts of the country’s western coast.