On January 24 (Fri), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency assistance in kind, equivalent to about 12 million yen, consisting of materials such as tents, blankets, sleeping mats, and electricity generators, to the Government of the United Mexican States, which has suffered damage caused by a large-scale earthquake.
On January 21 (Tue), at 8:08 p.m. (Japan time: 11:08 a.m. on January 22), an earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale (announced by the National Seismic Center in Mexico City) with its seismic center 10km deep in the sea off Colima City on the western Pacific coast of Mexico, shook 13 states including Colima and Jalisco, and Mexico City itself.
The earthquake was the fifth largest in the past 25 years in Mexico, with the result that even Mexico City, about 500km away from the epicenter, has suffered damage to parts of its infrastructure. Damage was especially severe in Colima City, located most closely to the epicenter: 29 people dead, about 500 injured, more than 30,000 afflicted, about 5,500 houses partly or completely destroyed and about 700 schools damaged. The total cost of the damage amounts to 10 million pesos (almost one million U.S. dollars).
At present, the Government of Mexico has declared a state of emergency in five municipalities in Colima State including Colima City, the state capital, and has started restoration activities on its own by distributing food, setting up shelters and dispatching doctors. Along with these activities, the Government of Mexico has requested emergency assistance from the Government of Japan.
Taking into account the seriousness of the disaster and the friendly relations between Japan and Mexico, the Government of Japan has decided to extend the abovementioned emergency assistance from a humanitarian point of view.