TOKYO, March 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy at Nanpeidai-Cho in the Shibuya district here was only slightly damaged when several aluminium ceiling panels at the gate fell to the ground after the 8.9 Richter scale earthquake struck Japan.
"That's the extent of the damage when the quake struck at 2.46pm," said Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som.
He told Bernama in an interview in his office after the earthquake that several gift items on display and books in his office fell to the ground.
Several pictures of former Malaysian ambasaadors to Japan were also tilted during the tremor.
"I was attending a seminar at the Okura Hotel when the earthquake took place. I rushed back to the embassy immediately after that," he said. "Although I had experienced some shocks from previous earthquakes since I was posted here, a year and four months ago, this was this biggest impact for me."
Shaharuddin was originally scheduled to declare open a meeting of the embassy's sports and recreation club at 4pm, but that had to be cancelled when he had to chair an emergency meeting to map out possible rescue efforts needed by fellow Malaysians in Japan who may be affected by the earthquake.
He said there were 16 Malaysian students in the Iwate prefecture and 40 Malaysian students in Miyagi prefecture, two areas which were near Sendai where the earthquake struck off the coast.
Shaharuddin also said 50 Malaysian and local embassy staff were safe, as well as about 20 family members or dependents from Malaysia.
Despite the emergency situation, Shaharuddin kept his scheduled appointment with Bernama to elaborate on enhancing bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan.
"That's the extent of the damage when the quake struck at 2.46pm," said Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Shaharuddin Md Som.
He told Bernama in an interview in his office after the earthquake that several gift items on display and books in his office fell to the ground.
Several pictures of former Malaysian ambasaadors to Japan were also tilted during the tremor.
"I was attending a seminar at the Okura Hotel when the earthquake took place. I rushed back to the embassy immediately after that," he said. "Although I had experienced some shocks from previous earthquakes since I was posted here, a year and four months ago, this was this biggest impact for me."
Shaharuddin was originally scheduled to declare open a meeting of the embassy's sports and recreation club at 4pm, but that had to be cancelled when he had to chair an emergency meeting to map out possible rescue efforts needed by fellow Malaysians in Japan who may be affected by the earthquake.
He said there were 16 Malaysian students in the Iwate prefecture and 40 Malaysian students in Miyagi prefecture, two areas which were near Sendai where the earthquake struck off the coast.
Shaharuddin also said 50 Malaysian and local embassy staff were safe, as well as about 20 family members or dependents from Malaysia.
Despite the emergency situation, Shaharuddin kept his scheduled appointment with Bernama to elaborate on enhancing bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan.
No comments:
Post a Comment