All of nearly 600 Taiwanese tourists all safe and accounted for after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan on Monday. The Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences to anyone affected by the event and offered Taiwan’s rescue teams to assist if needed.
The Foreign Ministry stated in a press release on Tuesday morning that a total of 18 tour groups are currently stranded in the disaster area. It also added that more than 20 independent Taiwanese travelers are temporarily grounded at Niigata Airport due to runway closure. The representative office in Japan has arranged blankets and other equipment for emergency use, and will immediately assist in transportation home once the airport's roads are accessible.
The Foreign Ministry says it is in close contact with relevant Japanese units and will continue to update the public with the latest information. If Taiwanese citizens need local assistance, the representative office in Japan is reachable at +81-80-1009-7179, and the office in Osaka can be contacted at +81-90-8794-4568.