Tsunami damamge in Japan. Photo: PAP/EAP/STR

According to reports from the Foreign Ministry, one Pole may have gone missing as a result of the tsunami that hit Japan earlier on Friday.

“For the time being the Japanese authorities have not confirmed this,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Bosacki told journalists, adding that Polish diplomats on location are trying to verify the information.

Around 1,000 Poles currently live in Japan.

Head of Poland’s Foreign Ministry, Radoslaw Sikorski, declared that Poland is ready to help Japan if need be. In a cable sent to his opposite number Takeami Matsumoto, Sikorski expressed his condolences about the grieg caused because of the tsunami and earthquake, which measured up to 8.9 on the Richter scale. President Komorowski and Prime Minister Tusk have also sent condolences to Japan.

Meanwhile, a Polish search and rescue team is already on standby to help the earthquake-affected Japan, Polish rescue services have assured.

The northeast coast of Japan was hit with 8.9-magnitude earthquake in the morning, triggering a 10-metre tsunami, causing huge damage.

Latest figures estimate that more than 200 people have died as a result of the earthquake and several dozen have gone missing, according to the Japanese state television.

A Polish rescue team consisting of 65 fire fighters and paramedics is on standby to go to Japan, assured brigadier Mariusz Feltynowski from the State Centre for Coordination of Rescue Operations and Civil Defence, who participated in rescue operations after earthquakes in Haiti and Sri Lanka.

Feltynowski added that Japanese rescue services are highly skilled and well prepared for emergency situations which gives hope that the number casualties will be minimised.

Earlier today, Jerzy Buzek, head of the European Parliament, offered the deepest condolences to the people of Japan and to the families and friends of the victims. Buzek said that international community should organise assistance for Japan even though it is a very well-organised country. Several countries, including the US, Great Britain and China have already offered to help Japan’s rescue efforts. (jb/mg)

Source: IAR/BBC

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President sends condolences after quake strikes Japan, thenews.pl 11.03.2011