MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines expressed its condolences to Japan following a magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck the western part of the country Monday morning.
The strong earthquake left at least three people dead and dozens injured.
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"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 in a statement.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, has not received reports of Filipinos being among the casualties in the Kansai Region. Around 16, 295 Filipinos live in the area.
The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka advised the Filipino community in Osaka, Hyoga, Nara and Shiga to be alert for aftershocks and to continue monitoring disaster-related information.
Consul General Maria Aileen Bugarin assured Cayetano that all consulate personnel are safe and that there are no reports of casualties among members of the Filipino community, the DFA said.
"Consul General 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," the DFA said.
Authorities in western Japan say the number of people treated for injuries suffered in a strong earthquake now exceeds 210.
The earthquake toppled concrete walls and store shelves and temporarily knocked out some power and water supplies.
The Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 214 people have been treated at hospitals in five prefectures. Most of the injured were in Osaka, which did not give details, but the injuries reported in Kyoto and three other neighboring prefectures were all minor. — Patricia Lourdes Viray with Associated Press