A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits a city in Japanso the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry reported on the situation of Guatemalans in that country.
In that sense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minex) reported that the Guatemalan Embassy in Japan maintains permanent monitoring of the situation of Guatemalans residing in that country.
He indicated that, until now, no affected Guatemalan citizens have been reported.
The Minex has registered 253 Guatemalans residing in Japan.
The Japanese authorities recommended maintaining caution against possible aftershocks and following the information disseminated through official channels, the Foreign Ministry added.
He also reported that Guatemalans who require assistance can contact the Consular Section at the number +81 3-5797-7502, during office hours; to the emergency telephone number +81 80-1477-6517, outside of business hours; or email embjapon@minex.gob.gt.
“The Embassy urges compatriots to heed the instructions of local authorities and stay informed through official means,” recommended the Minex.
Earthquake damage in Japan
At least one person died, about 80 were injured and authorities presume that another 30 remain trapped after the collapse of a shopping center in southern Japan, after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the city of Kumamoto, EFE reported.
A person was found in a collapsed house in the city of Yatsushiro and taken to a hospital, where he later died, reported the Japanese agency Kyodo, which cited the Kumamoto Police.
A shopping center in the area was affected by an explosion that caused the second floor of the building to collapse and, according to the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, around thirty employees remain missing and are feared to be under the rubble.
Thousands of people remain without electricity in the area and authorities asked the population to remain alert to the possibility of new tremors.
Japan sits on the so-called Ring of Fire, one of the most active seismic zones in the world, and suffers earthquakes relatively frequently, so its infrastructure is specially designed to resist tremors, EFE added.
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