11/03/2011

Britain Will Assist In Japanese Earthquake

The UK are to offer help to Japan after the country was struck by an earthquake earlier today.

The quake, measuring a massive 8.9 on the Richter scale, triggered a tsunami killing at least 60 people.

New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii have been put on high alert.

After chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency response committee, Foreign Secretary, William Hague has offered UK humanitarian assistance and search and rescue teams.

At this time there are no known British casualties but UK embassy staff are continuing their investigations.

Today the earthquake hit the north-east of Japan at 1446 local time (0546 GMT).

Foreign Secretary, William Hague said: "We are in contact with the Japanese government and I have asked our ambassador in Tokyo to offer all assistance we can as Japan responds to this terrible disaster.

"We are also working urgently to provide consular assistance to British nationals. Our embassy and consulates-general across Japan are in touch with local authorities and are making contact with British nationals to provide consular assistance.

"We have set up a crisis centre in the Foreign Office to co-ordinate our response and offer advice to anyone concerned about relatives or friends in Japan. We are not aware of any British casualties at this time."

The Prime Minister, David Cameron said: "We've had a terrible reminder of the destructive power of nature, and everyone should be thinking of that country and their people, and I've asked immediately that our government should look at what we can do to help."

(BMcN/GK)

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