No Pinoys hurt in powerful Japan quake —DFA

No Filipinos were injured in the magnitude 5.9 quake that struck western Japan early Monday, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka has advised Filipinos in the prefectures of Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Shiga to be on alert for aftershocks and avoid unnecessary travel.

There are 16,295 Filipinos in the Kansai Region, the epicenter of the earthquake that, according to latest reports, left three people dead.

“We express our condolences to the Government of Japan over the loss of lives in this morning’s earthquake in the Kansai Region,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said.

“We hope and pray that loss of lives and damage to property would be minimal.”

In her report to Cayetano, Consul General Maria Aileen Bugarin said all Consulate personnel were safe and accounted for, and that there are no reports of casualties among members of the Filipino community.

The Consulate General meanwhile advised the Filipino Community to continue monitoring disaster-related information and heed the calls of authorities in their respective areas.

Bugarin said Japanese authorities are still assessing the damage caused by the tremor and that safety checks were being conducted in the building where the consulate is located.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government was assessing damage and that its top priority was the safety of residents.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said originally put the quake's magnitude at 5.9 but later raised it to 6.1. —KBK, GMA News