JAPAN: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that more than 1,600 Cambodians were in six prefectures of Japan affected by Monday’s earthquake. There is still no confirmation on how many Cambodians were killed or injured. According to reports, three Cambodian students in Ishikawa Prefecture and five others in Niigata Prefecture have been evacuated.

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Japan on New Year’s Day around 4pm, the largest registered since the devastating 2011 earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami that left over 20,000 dead. Luckily, no major tsunamis have been reported following Monday’s earthquake, but so far 62 deaths have been confirmed, with the number expected to grow as rescue teams search the rubble.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cambodian Embassy in Japan have been closely monitoring the situation and have made efforts to contact Cambodians living in Japan. The Royal Government of Cambodia says it considers the safety of the Cambodian people to be its highest priority. The Cambodian Embassy will continue to monitor and cooperate with relevant Japanese authorities to regularly report on any developments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Cambodians living in Japan to remain vigilant and abide by the Japanese authorities' guidelines for personal safety.