PM Najib expresses condolences to families of Japan quake

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak offered his condolences and sympathies to the people of Japan, especially to the families and victims of those affected by Thursday's earthquake.

Najib in his latest posting on his Facebook account on Saturday also confirmed that there were no reports of any Malaysian casualties in the Kumamoto prefecture in Japan that was hit by an earthquake, last Thursday.

"The ministry has also confirmed that 18 Malaysian students have been moved to the evacuation zone and we are working closely with the Japanese government to confirm the status of other Malaysians.

"I urge all to remain calm and to contact the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo for further assistance at +(81-3) 3476-3840," he said in his latest post on his Facebook account, today.

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An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale hit south-west of Japan at 9.26 pm, claiming nine lives while more than 700 people were injured.

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 7.0, or 6.3 times bigger than the 6.2 tremor recorded on Thursday. - AFP Photo

Wisma Putra in a statement yesterday confirmed that all the 18 Malaysian students in three universities in the Kumamoto prefecture were safe.

The students are studying at the Kumamoto University, National College of Technology Kumamoto and Ariake National College of Technology.