Shortly after 16:00 on 1 January 2024, a major earthquake of seismic intensity registering an upper 7 occurred with its epicenter in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. Shocks of seismic intensity measuring an upper 5 to a lower 5 were also observed in the surrounding prefectures of Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Nagano and Gifu, as well as a tsunami in a wide area along the Japan Sea coast from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The situation remains unpredictable as aftershocks continue.

Although the exact extent of the damage is not yet known, many people have been killed or injured and many have been evacuated to public buildings. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the victims of the earthquake and extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families and other concerned parties.

We are currently confirming the safety of our students from the affected areas. We are also considering dispatching our own medical team to the affected areas as well as providing relief supplies. The University is committed to providing as much support as possible to help the affected areas recover as quickly as possible.

2 January 2024 (Reiwa 6)

Mitsuo Ochi, President of Hiroshima University