No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchive241 Costa Ricans live in Japan, but none among the deceased after...

241 Costa Ricans live in Japan, but none among the deceased after earthquake

As of Saturday, 37 Costa Ricans had reported to the Foreign Ministry that they were alive and in good condition in Japan after the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami on Friday afternoon (Friday morning in Costa Rica). On Sunday, the estimated death toll in Japan surpassed 10,000, and it’s expected to pass 20,000. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the devastation was the worst the nation had experienced since World War II.

According to the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry, an estimated 241 Costa Ricans live in Japan, though none live near the port city of Sendai, which was hit hardest by the quake and subsequent tsunami. Mario Fernandez Silva, the Costa Rican Ambassador to Japan, reported that no Costa Ricans have been listed on the database that contains the names of the victims.

Amid the damage from the tsunami and earthquake, worries over the weekend were exacerbated by the fear that four nuclear reactors in the affected area would overheat and explode, resulting in potentially catastrophic damage and radiation exposure to citizens in the region. On Saturday the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex suffered one explosion and a potential second explosion continues to be a nationwide fear as the temperatures of the reactors at the plant remain exceedingly high. In the wake of the first explosion, thousands of citizens were urged to leave the area due to potential exposure to radiation.

The U.N. nuclear agency declared a state of emergency Sunday at another complex, the Onagawa power plant, after higher-than-permitted levels of radiation were measured there. Japan has a total of 55 reactors nationwide.

The Foreign Ministry said it will continue to release updates on the statuses of Costa Ricans living in Japan during the upcoming days.

Trending Now

Alligator Alcatraz: Trump’s Everglades Migrant Camp Draws Protests and Criticism

US President Donald Trump toured a new Florida migrant detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" on Tuesday, boasting about the harsh conditions and joking that...

Costa Rica Stars in Variety’s Top Ten Film Locations

Variety Magazine named our small piece of paradise a top filming destination in its latest featured article, “Ten Locations to Die For,” spotlighting our...

When Will Poás Volcano National Park Reopen? Here’s What We Know

Although Poás Volcano has entered a more stable phase and the alert level has been lowered to green, the national park will remain closed...

El Salvador Slams Paris Fashion Show Inspired by Cecot Mega-Prison Inmates

The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, joked on Saturday that he could send inmates from his mega-prison to France, after they were represented...

Guatemala Makes History as They Face USA in Gold Cup Semifinal Showdown

Desperate to show progress under Mauricio Pochettino, the United States is looking to secure a return to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Wednesday...

Costa Rica Identified as Key Maritime Route for Cocaine Trafficking

Costa Rica appears among the main maritime and aerial routes for cocaine trafficking between South and North America, according to the World Drug Report 2025 published...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica