Condolences extended to Japan over quake devastation

This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a communiqué on September 11.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent his sympathy to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

At least nine people were killed and about 300 injured by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake that struck Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido early September 6, destroying houses, ripping apart roads and causing a number of massive landslides, including some that buried parts of towns.

The quake also cut power to all 2.95 million homes and a nuclear power plant in the prefecture, causing the cancellation of flights and disrupting train services to the popular tourist destination.

The temblor, which occurred in southern Hokkaido at a depth of about 37 km, registered the highest reading of 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in Atsuma and upper 6 in Abira, both southeast of Sapporo. No tsunami warning was issued.

                                                                                                                            By Vien Nhu