On Thursday, South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that it would provide $3 million worth of humanitarian aid to Japan as the death toll in the Noto Peninsula earthquake reached 206 deaths.
The magnitude 7.6 quake on New Year's Day killed more than 200 people in Japan's western region and forced more than 26,000 people to evacuate from their homes.
South Korea to Provide $3 Million Aid to Quake-Hit Japan
South Korea has offered assistance to Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture to help the region cope with the earthquake's aftermath. The country's foreign ministry said that the government hopes that the aid will help recovery work in the damaged areas and help local residents return to their daily lives at an early time.
"We truly welcome and appreciate this decision which demonstrates the friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and South Korea," Japan's foreign ministry responded.
Last week, Japan talked to the US about emergency assistance and declined offers for help from other countries, including China, for the time being. The country said that it would accept relief as long as it does not cause logistical complications.
South Korea's conservative President, Yoon Suk Yeol, has significantly improved ties and security cooperation with Japan despite lingering tension over Japan's wartime history and territorial claims over islets between the two countries.
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Massive Earthquake Hit Japan
On Monday afternoon, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan, resulting in the collapse of buildings, the start of fires, and the triggering of tsunami alarms as far away as eastern Russia. The massive earthquake caused the government to evacuate threatened coastal districts in Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency promptly issued a tsunami warning for western Japan's coastal districts, and the first waves were reported to have impacted the coast.
According to NHK, some of the first reports of the tsunami came from Wajima in the Ishikawa prefecture, where waves as high as 1.2 meters were recorded at 4:21 pm. No immediate damage was reported.
Later, the tsunami warnings along portions of Japan's western coast were removed.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "major tsunami warning" for Noto for the first time since 2011's devastating earthquake. But later downgraded to a "tsunami warning."
Furthermore, tsunami warnings were later canceled as the threat of further tsunami waves decreased, though advisories for waves up to 1 meter remained.
Defense minister Minoru Kihara told reporters that the defense ministry sent 1,000 military soldiers to aid search and recovery efforts.
According to Suzu city officials in Ishikawa, buildings had been damaged, and there were reports of injuries. The city's police reported that several individuals were stranded in damaged homes.
The Suzu hospital officials said they have received injured patients and also mentioned that several doctors were unable to report to work due to damaged roads.
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