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China offers its help to earthquake-hit Japan

CGTN

 , Updated 16:27, 03-Jan-2024
A worker removes debris at a collapsed house in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, January 3, 2024. /CFP
A worker removes debris at a collapsed house in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, January 3, 2024. /CFP

A worker removes debris at a collapsed house in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, January 3, 2024. /CFP

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that China is willing to provide necessary help to Japan after a massive magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the country on New Year's Day and killed over 60 people.

Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said there have been no Chinese casualties reported so far, and China is closely following the situation. 

A series of aftershocks were recorded in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture following Monday's strong quake. The full extent of the situation remains unknown, as rubble and severed roads still prevented search and rescue operations on Wednesday. 

As rescuers rush aid to survivors amid warnings of freezing rain and landslides, a Japanese coastguard aircraft that was on a mission to the quake site collided with a Japan Airlines plane at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Tuesday.

All but one of the six people on the small aircraft were killed, but all 379 Japan Airlines passengers and crew escaped down emergency slides minutes before the Airbus was engulfed in flames late Tuesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later said the accident has no impact on disaster relief work, and the transportation of relief supplies to the areas has been progressing steadily.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, no Chinese nationals were injured in the collision, and the Chinese embassy in Japan has made contact with 14 Hong Kong tourists who were aboard the passenger plane to provide assistance.

"We express our condolences to the victims of the accident and sympathy to the injured," Wang added. 

(With input from agencies)

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