Tokyo’s emergency assistance is in response to a request from the Turkish Government and is based on a humanitarian point of view as well as on friendly bilateral relations, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

According to plans, the first group of rescuers will leave this evening (local time) to the areas of southeastern Türkiye, devastated by the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the Richter scale.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a message of condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he expressed his deep sadness for the numerous victims reported so far. ‘On behalf of the Government and people of Japan, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to those who lost their lives and extend my condolences to those affected. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,’ he said.

The Japanese leader promised to provide whatever assistance Türkiye requires according to local needs.

He mentioned that both countries have supported each other in previous disasters and on this occasion Japan will stand with the Turkish people as they overcome the difficulties.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also wrote a letter to his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, in which he conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished for a speedy recovery of the affected areas.

‘Japan is another earthquake-prone country and we understand well the various pains associated with catastrophes,’ he stressed.

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