Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Ambassador to Japan M Lutfi said here Friday Embassy staff were now collecting data on and providing assistance to Indonesian citizens living in Japan following the 8.9 earthquake that shook Japan earlier in the day.

Lutfi said in an official statement received here from Tokyo, embassy staff and their families has been coordinating to collect data and provide assistance for all Indonesians in Japan.

"We are concerned about the major earthquake that shook Japan two-and-a-half hours ago," Lutfi said.

Lutfi said there were about 20,000 Indonesian citizens living in Japan and the condition of each of them were continuously being observed and monitored.

The major earthquake that triggered a tsunami also caused transportation, electrical and telecommunication failures in most parts of Tokyo.

The Japanese government and citizens seem to be prepared in handling the disaster, "We are hoping all Indonesians are in a safe and sound condition, and also remaining calm. We will continuously provide updates on the situation over the next few hours," he said.

The strong earthquake and tsunami which occurred at 12:46 pm local time with the location coordinates of 38.49 North latitude and 142.79 East Longitude, with a 44km depth, it also causes the ships hit the beach and cars swept through the streets of the coastal cities of Japan.

Until the filing of this report several people have been reported injured, and 23 others killed as reported by the Russian News Agency Ria Novosti, particularly from the Pacific coast of Miyagi area on the main island of Honshu, said the police according to the media and television which showed widespread flooding in the area.

The tsunami would also reach the territories of Guam, the Philippines, Marshall Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Micronesia and Hawaii.

Tokyo Megacity is located at the intersection of three continental plates, namely the Eurasian plate, the Pacific and Philippine Sea which were slowly rubbing with each other creating immense earthquake pressure.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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