ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region Presidency and Iraqi foreign ministry on Tuesday extended condolences to Japan after a deadly earthquake rocked the country's central region and killed at least 48 people.
A major 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Ishikawa prefecture on the main Japanese island of Honshu on New Year’s Day, triggering tsunami waves and causing major fires in the area, with the quake triggering powerful aftershocks.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers search through the rubble of destroyed buildings, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida saying that rescue teams “have to race against time to search for and rescue victims of the disaster” after an emergency meeting.
All tsunami warnings, however, were lifted on Tuesday.
“We extend our condolences to the people and government of Japan after yesterday’s devastating earthquake. Our thoughts were with the people affected and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said on X.
In a statement, the Iraqi foreign ministry said it “expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the government and people of Japan.”
“At a time when the ministry announces our support for friendly Japan, we extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” the ministry added.
