Tokyo 5.9 quake injures 37; Taiwan confirms no casualties.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck Japan's Kanto region in the early hours of today, with its epicenter located near Tokyo. The sudden and violent shaking not only awakened many local residents but also resulted in at least 37 injuries. This earthquake has once again raised awareness of the high risk of major disasters facing Japan's capital region. In response, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) grasped the latest developments through established channels at the earliest opportunity and stated publicly today that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan immediately activated its emergency response mechanism following the incident. Currently, no reports of casualties or requests for assistance have been received from Taiwanese travelers, expatriates, or international students in Japan. The representative office will continue to closely monitor subsequent developments and stands ready to provide necessary assistance at any time.

According to observational data released by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the shaking from this magnitude 5.9 earthquake was quite severe. Many residents in downtown Tokyo were startled awake from their sleep, buildings in some areas experienced noticeable swaying, and transportation facilities and public services were briefly disrupted. Although Japan is one of the countries with the most extensive global experience in earthquake disaster prevention, featuring strict building regulations and high seismic resistance in its infrastructure, a sudden medium-to-large-scale earthquake inevitably causes injuries and brief societal disruption. According to preliminary statistics from local police and fire departments, it is currently known that at least 37 people sustained minor to severe injuries in this earthquake, mostly caused by falling objects or falls resulting from the violent shaking. Damage assessment and rescue operations by relevant units are still ongoing.

In the face of the felt earthquake in Japan, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the representative office in Japan have always placed a high priority on the safety of ROC nationals in Japan. Immediately after the earthquake, MOFA instructed the representative office in Japan to proactively contact local overseas compatriot leaders, representatives of international students, and Taiwanese business associations, and to issue safety reminders to Taiwanese compatriots in Japan through the office's social media and emergency contact channels. MOFA officially stated today that, following multifaceted verification and contact with Japanese police and related units by the representative office in Japan, no reports of Taiwanese citizens, expatriates, or international students suffering casualties or requiring emergency assistance in this earthquake have been received to date. This news has brought temporary relief to Taiwanese citizens concerned about their family and friends in Japan, and it demonstrates the swift response and control capabilities of Taiwan's overseas missions in the face of sudden natural disasters.

Interpersonal exchanges between Taiwan and Japan are extremely frequent. Whether for tourism, business trips, or advanced studies, a large number of Taiwanese people are active across various parts of Japan at any given time. Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, frequent earthquakes are a daily routine in Japan. However, judging from past historical experience, if a larger inland direct-hit earthquake were to occur in the capital region, its potential impact and consequences would be immeasurable. Therefore, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the representative office in Japan have established comprehensive emergency contact networks and reporting mechanisms during normal times, and they continuously promote overseas travel safety concepts to citizens. Although the earthquake in the Kanto region did not cause casualties among Taiwanese people, it once again reminds all nationals traveling abroad that they must pay attention to local weather warnings and disaster prevention information at all times, and properly memorize the emergency assistance telephone numbers of overseas missions so that they can obtain assistance at the earliest possible moment in the event of an emergency.

From the perspective of regional security and humanitarian care, although this earthquake in Japan did not trigger a tsunami warning and the damage was not devastating like that of an extreme mega-quake, it still highlights the potential threat of extreme natural disasters to modern metropolitan areas. Taiwan and Japan are similarly located in seismic zones, and both sides have long maintained close exchanges and cooperation in fields such as disaster prevention technology, rescue experience, and post-disaster response. Whenever a disaster occurs in Japan, Taiwanese society consistently shows empathetic concern and a willingness to provide assistance; conversely, when Taiwan faces challenges, various sectors in Japan repeatedly extend a helping hand. Although this Kanto earthquake did not cause harm to our nationals, MOFA continues to urge nationals in Japan not to lower their guard, as they must remain vigilant against potential aftershocks in the coming days. The representative office in Japan will also remain at its post and continue to safeguard the safety of our nationals in Japan.

(Source: Central News Agency)