DMW monitors OFWs in Japan in the aftermath of earthquake

This aerial view shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, northern Japan, on Aug. 24, 2023, shortly after its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings TEPCO, began releasing its first batch of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean. Japan on March 11, 2024 marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country’s northern coasts. (Kyodo News via AP, File)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it is monitoring the developments in Japan after the country was rocked by a magnitude 6 earthquake on Thursday afternoon.

In an advisory, the DMW said its Migrant Workers Offices in Tokyo (MWO-Tokyo) and Osaka (MWO-Osaka) in Japan reported that the quake’s epicenter was located off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in the northeastern part of Honshu, Japan’s main island.

“Protocols for accounting for the safety and status of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the affected areas have been activated,” the DMW said.

“Both MWO-Tokyo and MWO-Osaka stand ready to assist OFWs should they require so. The posts will provide the DMW Head Office with updates as developments occur,” it added.

READ: About 5,000 Filipinos affected in Taiwan quake; no repatriation bid yet 

As of writing time, Japanese media have yet to report injuries or deaths following the powerful earthquake.

The earthquake in Japan comes a day after a magnitude 7.2 temblor shook Taiwan’s east coast on April 3, which injured over 700 people, including three Filipinos.