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Japan

Northeastern Japan: Earthquake - Information Bulletin n° 1

Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Allocated: None
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In Brief

This document is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking any funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.

The Situation

On Saturday 26 July, northeastern Japan was hit by a series of strong earthquakes followed by a succession of aftershocks. The first quake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit shortly after midnight. The area was hit again by a second earthquake measuring 6.2 seven hours later. Aftershocks jolted the area several times, including one on Saturday afternoon with a magnitude 5.4.

The Miyagi prefecture, about 300 km north of Tokyo, sustained the greatest amount of earthquake related damage. According to the local government, 5,801 houses were damaged, and 73 houses were completely destroyed. So far 2,800 people were evacuated, and there have been 569 reported injuries. Most of the injuries are not serious, and no deaths have been reported so far.

The earthquake triggered a landslide, and recent heavy rains could make the situation more dangerous. 600 members of the Japanese Self Defense Force have already been sent to the region.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

The Miyagi Chapter of the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), in coordination with the JRCS National Head Office in Tokyo, responded immediately to the first earthquake on Saturday and began distributing relief items. By Sunday 27 July, the JRCS mobilised over 3,000 blankets, 1,200 daily relief kits, and 1,400 family kits (containing basic hygiene items and tinned food items) for distribution. Three medical teams from the local Red Cross Hospital were also deployed to evacuation centres.

For further details please contact:

  • Japanese Red Cross Society in Tokyo; Phone +81-3-3437-7088; Fax number; +81-3-3435-8509 Email; kokusai@jrc.or.jp
  • Satoshi Sugai, Desk Officer, Phone 41 22 730 4273; Fax 41 22 733 0395; email satoshi.sugai@ifrc.org

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.

For a full description of the National Society profile, to support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org

For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.

MAP - Japan: Earthquake Location Map