On 14th April 2016, a powerful earthquake hit southern Japan, Mashiki town near Kumamoto City on the island of Kyushu. No Tsunami warning was issued after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the town. It has been reported that at least 9 people have died and 778 people are injured, 44 of which are left in critical condition. It has been estimated that more than 44,000 are evacuated from their homes. Officials are assessing the extent of the damage.

CODE endeavours to provide support to, and work together with our partner organization, the NGO Collaboration Centre for Hanshin Quake Rehabilitation. We dispatched our staff to the disaster stricken area last night, and in addition, some more volunteer members are heading to the area.

The area is densely packed with buildings and houses, and our utmost concern is for the welfare and well-being of the older people, as the weather forecast predicts that the weather may deteriorate rapidly.

Mashiki resident said that he was absolutely frightened as he could not comprehend the situation in the pitch-dark night. A 70-old-man said, “Buildings were violently shaking during the quake, and I was so scared of the aftershocks that I could not sleep at all.

Japan Median Tectonic Line (MTL) is Japan’s longest fault system. The MTL begins near Ibaraki Prefecture where it connects with the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line (ISTL) and the Fossa Magna. It runs parallel to Japan’s volcanic arc, passing through central Honshu to near Nagoya, through Mikawa Bay, then through the Inland Sea from the Kii Cannel and Naruto Strait to Shikoku along the Sadamisaki Peninsula and the Bungo Channel and Hoyo to Kyushu. The intensity 7 was felt in the town of Mashiki, where the Futagawa and Hinagu faults meet.

We would greatly appreciate your support for Japan.

★Yubin Furikae (through Japan Bank counter servie)
Account number: 00930-0-330579
Account name: CODE

★Yucho Bank (through Japan Bank)
Branch name: 〇九九 (099)
Branch number: 099
Account number: 0330579 (Checking account)

★If you have a credit card (Click on 「Donate」)
http://www.code-jp.org/english/cooperation/membership-e.html