The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on January 4 sent a recovery team to Ishikawa prefecture, the locality hardest hit by the January 1 earthquake, to assess the situation and help affected Vietnamese residents, VOV reported.

The Embassy's team worked with prefecture authorities, representatives of organizations with Vietnamese apprentices, and Vietnamese people living on the Noto Peninsula near the epicenter of the massive earthquake.

An Ishikawa official said no Vietnamese casualties have been reported so far.

The Embassy working team visit Vietnamese apprentices in Ishikawa prefecture, central Japan. Photo: Xuan Giao/VNA

According to the prefecture, of the 5,000 Vietnamese people working or studying in Ishikawa, about 600 live on the Noto Peninsula. The prefecture promised to coordinate closely with labor unions, companies with apprentices, and Vietnamese volunteer groups to ensure the safety of and provide necessary aid to, all Vietnamese nationals living there.

An Aureole-Vietnam Union representative said four apprentices from Hakusan were welcomed to the union and three more have taken refuge there. They said all the Vietnamese under their protection were safe.

On the same day, the Embassy team delivered relief goods to a dormitory that houses 17 Vietnamese apprentices who work for a seafood processing company in Ishikawa.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassy set up hotlines for citizen protection, while forming a special working group to closely follow the situation, especially the safety of Vietnamese people living, studying, and working in localities affected by the natural disaster.

The relief aid is handed over to Vietnamese workers in Ishikawa prefecture. Photo: VNA

Following the recent earthquake, many Vietnamese in localities adjacent to Ishikawa provided aid for their disaster-hit compatriots. They worked to provide fresh water as the damaged supply system had yet to be restored as of January 5.

On January 4 evening, a group of volunteers gathered at a store in Ishikawa’s Komatsu with canned and bottled water, along with instant noodles and rice, and disposable bowls and chopsticks, among other items.

Nguyen Chi Thanh Duoc, the owner of the store, told the VNA that he and others contacted Vietnamese in the earthquake-stricken areas to learn about their needs.

Many Vietnamese citizens across Japan have expressed their wish and readiness to support the victims, he said.

It was not easy to approach Vietnamese near the epicenter due to the extreme cold and damaged roads, Duoc said, adding that it took his 10-member support group more than four hours to reach the destination.

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