Envoy: No Filipinos reported hurt in Japan quake as of early Saturday

As of predawn Saturday, no report of Filipinos being among the casualties in a magnitude-8.9 quake that rocked Japan and the resulting 10-meter tsunami that swept some coastal areas there. But Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said communication problems are hampering them from getting information on the status of Filipinos in Japan. "As of 4 a.m. wala pa kaming information kung may mga Pilipinong napinsala dito sa lindol na ito. Mino-monitor namin ito. Our staff is trying to get in touch with the Philippine community in Japan. As of now wala kaming information kung may nasaktan," Lopez said in an interview on dzBB radio. (As of 4 a.m. we have no information of Filipinos being among the casualties. Our staff is trying to get in touch with the Philippine community in Japan. As of now we have no information on the matter.) He said there are about 230,000 Filipinos in Japan, most of them are in Tokyo and Osaka. Lopez said that as of Saturday morning, phone communication lines were still "very poor," adding they get information through the Internet. He also said several aftershocks occurred after Friday afternoon's quake. "This is the worst ever quake (in) Japan," he said. DFA's additional contact numbers Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued additional emergency numbers for Filipinos in Japan or their loved ones in the Philippines to call – once phone services there are restored. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo also advised the Filipinos in Japan to take the necessary precautionary measures and to closely monitor the situation. "In case of emergency, the Embassy also urged Filipinos to proceed to the nearest fire station or city hall in their area to receive instructions and assistance," the DFA said. The Embassy also requested the Filipino organizations to provide information on any Filipino injury, casualty or requests for assistance. It likewise urged people in coastal and low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground due to the threat of tsunami as Japanese meteorological experts predict more aftershocks. The Embassy has set up emergency landline numbers for members of the Filipino community in Japan at:

* +81-3-5562-1570 * +81-3-5562-1577 * +81-3-5562-1590

For inquiries, Embassy officials can also be contacted through this email address: emergency@philembassy.net. As soon as telephone service is restored, members of the Filipino community may also contact emergency numbers:

* +81-3-5562-1573 * +81-3-5562-1574

The Philippine Consulate General in Osaka may be contacted at telephone numbers:

* +81-90-4036-7984 * +81-6-6910-7881

While the Embassy said landline and mobile phone networks remain down in their area, Internet services remain available. In Manila, the hotline numbers at the DFA-OUMWA's Crisis Management Center are 834-4646 and 834-4580. Requests for information may also be sent through e-mail address dfaoumwa.cmc@gmail.com. Other emergency numbers: * Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Sapporo may be contacted at telephone number +81-11-614-8090. * Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Morioka may be contacted at telephone number +81-19-626-9139. * Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Nagoya may be contacted at +81-52-584-5698. * Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Naha may be contacted at +81-98-892-5486. In its report to the DFA, the Philippine Embassy said that it was able to establish contact with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Morioka. The honorary consulate was instructed to look after the condition of Filipinos in its respective area. Members of the Filipino community may also contact the telephone numbers of the Philippine Honorary Consulates as soon as telephone service resumes operations. There are at least 1,309 Filipinos in Miyagi prefecture, the place in Sendai, Honshu, which bore the brunt of the quake. — LBG, GMA News