Top > Incidents

Great East Japan Earthquake

April 4, 2011

A Message from His Majesty The Emperor (March 16, 2011) (other site)

(The Imperial Household Agency)

Countermeasures for the Great East Japan Earthquake
(Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Official Website) (other site)

Message from Prime Minister Naoto Kan Regarding Assistance Received from Overseas (other site)



Announcements

To foreign nationals who wish to postpone their visit to Japan owing to the Great East Japan Earthquake

English [PDF] Chinese [PDF] Korean [PDF] Portuguese [PDF] Russian [PDF] Spanish [PDF]



Press conferences and briefings

Current situation and the Government of Japan's response

Confirming safety of foreign nationals in Japan

Information from the Immigration Bureau
Relating to the Great East Japan Earthquake

Information includes the followings:

  1. Confirming the safety of victims ( inquiries on departure facts )
  2. Opening times of the immigration offices
  3. Consultation service relating to Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake Disaster
  4. Immigration control measures for extension of the period of stay and other related matters in accordance with the occurrence of Tohoku - Pacific Ocean Earthquake Disaster

For more information, please visit:

Ensuring safety of nuclear power stations

Related Links

More Information



Current situation and the Government of Japan's response

1. Outlines

Overview of the earthquake disaster and the Government of Japan's response

  1. (1) Around 14:46 of March 11, massive earthquakes with the magnitude of 9.0 struck Sanriku Coast, Japan. Waves of tsunami of more than 7 meters swept cities and villages of Tohoku district off the Pacific Ocean, causing devastating human as well as physical damages. Tokyo also observed tremors with a seismic intensity of 5-strong, but damage there was relatively modest. Aftershocks still persist, particularly in Tohoku district.
  2. (2) The Government of Japan immediately set up its emergency headquarters with Prime Minister Kan at the helm, making all-out efforts for search and rescue, assisting evacuees, and reconstructing various lifelines, in liaison with all government bodies and local governments.
  3. (3) Sympathies have been expressed and assistance offered from around the world. So far, rescue teams from 20 countries and regions as well as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have arrived Japan and have been in operation. Also, the U.S. Forces in Japan are extending assistance.
  4. (4) The earthquake and tsunami resulted in emergency situations including failure of the reactor-cooling systems in TEPCO(Tokyo Electric Power Company)'s nuclear power stations in Fukushima Prefecture. Responses have been taken with regards to these situations.
  5. (5) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been undertaking coordination with respect to acceptance of foreign rescue teams, etc., communication with the diplomatic corps and the foreign press corps, and confirmation of the safety of foreign nationals, among other measures. Japan's overseas missions are accepting relief money from private organizations, etc., of foreign countries.

2. Damages

  1. (1) The earthquake and tsunami devastated Tohoku district and other regions. Damages were inflicted in Kanto district, too. The number of deaths is 12,087, the number of the injured is 2,876, and the number of missing is 15,552 (as of April 3 at 20:00 according to the National Police Agency). The number of those evacuated is approximately 206,400 (as of April 3 at 11:00 according to the National Police Agency).
  2. (2) In Tohoku district and other regions, electricity, gas and water are disconnected in many areas. Roads, railways, airports, and other infrastructure were also severely damaged. Currently, the whole nation is working for the post-disaster rehabilitation, and lifelines are gradually recovering.

3. Sympathies from countries and regions around the world

  1. (1) Many sympathies, as well as expressions of solidarity, have been offered from countries and regions around the world as well as international organizations, including in the form of video-messages(YouTube United Nations Videos)other site.
  2. (2) Prime Minister Kan had telephone talks with President Obama of the United States, President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Gillard of Australia, President Medvedev of Russia, Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations, President Sarkozy of France, President Van Rompuy of the European Council, Prime Minister Singh of India, Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom, and Chancellor Merkel of Germany. Prime Minister Kan also received a courtesy call from Director General Amano of the IAEA and others.
  3. (3) Minister for Foreign Affairs Matsumoto met with Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia, Foreign Minister Juppe of France, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi of China, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan of the ROK, met and held telephone talks with Secretary of State Clinton of the United States, held telephone talks and an informal meeting with Foreign Secretary Hague of the United Kingdom, and had telephone talks with Foreign Minister Rudd of Australia and Foreign Minister McCully of New Zealand, Foreign Minister Patriota of Brazil, and Foreign Minister Marty of Indonesia. Minister Matsumoto also had an informal meeting with High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) Ashton. Minister Matsumoto also received a courtesy call from Director General Amano of the IAEA and others.

4. Emergency assistance from overseas countries and regions

  1. (1) So far 134 countries and regions as well as 39 international organizations have expressed their intentions to extend assistance.
  2. (2) So far, rescue and medical support teams from 20 countries and regions (Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, the ROK, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S.) as well as and the UNOCHA, an IAEA expert team, and the WFP have arrived Japan and have been operating in disaster-stricken areas. (The list includes countries and regions which have already left the site.) Surveys have been conducted by UN organizations and other institutions related to disaster relief. As of March 31, Japan has received relief goods from 29 countries/regions and international organizations.
  3. (3) The U.S. Forces in Japan have dispatched their aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" and other vessels to the sea area off Tohoku district and are extending assistance(more). It is also providing support for the acceptance of foreign rescue teams to Yokota Airfield and Misawa Airfield.
  4. (4) Australia's C17 aircraft has been providing transportation assistance in Japan, and urgently transported a special pump needed for cooling Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant from Australia.
  5. (5) Medical relief teams from around the world have started operation in Japan.
  6. (6) Japan's overseas missions are accepting relief money for this earthquake. NGOs, private companies and individuals around the world have extended or offered numerous donations and/or assistance. As of March 31, at least 36 NGOs from 16 countries are known to have arrived in Japan.


Confirming safety of foreign nationals in Japan

  1. (1) Diplomatic corps in Tokyo and staff members of international organizations have been confirmed safe. The Consulate General's office of the ROK in Sendai (the only foreign mission in four prefectures of Tohoku district) has confirmed the safety of its staff members.
  2. (2) The safety of JICA trainees and visitors under the programs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Foundation has been confirmed.
  3. (3) Information regarding the safety of foreign nationals living in Tohoku district is being gathered in liaison with related ministries and organizations, respective embassies in Tokyo, travel agencies, and other institutions.
  4. (4) The Japan Red Cross and the International Committee for the Red Cross have established websites ( http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/ (other site) ) to confirm the safety of foreigners living in Japan.
  5. (5) List of the Local Governments in Tohoku district (Earthquake Information Inquiry [PDF] )


Ensuring safety of nuclear power stations

  1. (1) After the earthquake and tsunami, control rods have been inserted immediately in the 11 reactors which were in operation in 3 nuclear power stations in Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaragi Prefectures, automatically suspending power generation.
  2. (2) With respect to TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi and Dai-ni Nuclear Power Stations in Fukushima Prefecture, a Nuclear Emergencies Situation was declared, and evacuations and introduction of emergency measures are undertaken.
  3. (3) Regarding the present situation at Fukushima Dai-ichi and Dai-ni Nuclear Power Plants, please refer to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (other site).
  4. (4) Concerning the accident and troubles at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry changed the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) provisional rating from Level 4 to Level 5 for some Units, as follows.
     
    - Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant Units 1, 2, and 3:  Level 5 (provisional rating)
    - Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant Unit 4:  Level 3 (provisional rating)
    - Fukushima Dai-ni Nuclear Power Plant: Units 1, 2, and 4:  Level 3 (provisional rating)
  5. (5) The Government of Japan has explained the situation to the diplomatic corps in Tokyo and foreign media, and is providing necessary information to the IAEA in a timely manner.

Related Links

1) Government of Japan

2) International organizations

3) Others


Related Links

List of Embassies, Consulates and International Organizations in Japan

1. Government of Japan

2. International organizations

3. Local authorities


4. Others

More Information

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