Taiwan donates 60 million yen to Japan following 7.6 earthquake

Taipei, Jan. 4 (CNA) Taiwan's government on Thursday pledged to donate 60 million Japanese yen (US$418,363) to help with reconstruction efforts in parts of Japan affected by Jan. 1's magnitude 7.6 earthquake.

At a press conference, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that in addition to the 60 million yen, the Ministry of Health and Welfare had set up an account for people to make private donations.

At least 70 people were killed after central Japan was hit by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake Monday afternoon, which also caused widespread damage to buildings.

Describing Japan and Taiwan as "more like family than friends," Wu said that the people of both countries had always been willing to help each other during times of need.

Wu noted that Japan was the first country to send search and rescue teams following the 2018 Hualien earthquake, and had also donated 4.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan when it was in short supply.

"A Japanese emergency is a Taiwanese emergency," the minister said, adding that now is the time for Taiwan to return the favor to Japan.

Wu said the money donated to the Japanese government would be used to assist with disaster relief and reconstruction efforts so that those affected by the earthquake would be able to return to their normal lives as soon as possible.

Japan's top envoy to Taiwan Kazuyuki Katayama, meanwhile, thanked Taiwan's government and the country's people for their assistance.

"The warmth and well wishes we received from people in Taiwan make us realize once again that a friend in need is a friend indeed," Katayama told the press briefing.

The magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit central Japan at 4:10 p.m. Monday at a depth of 10 kilometers on the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa, collapsing buildings, sparking fires and triggering tsunami alerts as far away as eastern Russia.