The Embassy working team visit Vietnamese apprentices in Ishikawa prefecture, central Japan. Photo: Xuan Giao/VNA

The Embassy's team worked with prefecture authorities, representatives of organizations with Vietnamese apprentices, and Vietnamese people living on the Noto Peninsula near the epicenter of the massive earthquake. An Ishikawa official said no Vietnamese casualties have been reported so far.

According to the prefecture, of the 5,000 Vietnamese people working or studying in Ishikawa, about 600 live on the Noto Peninsula. The prefecture promised to coordinate closely with labor unions, companies with apprentices, and Vietnamese volunteer groups to ensure the safety of, and provide necessary aid to, all Vietnamese nationals living there.

An Aureole-Vietnam Union representative said four apprentices from Hakusan were welcomed to the union and three more have taken refuge there. They said all the Vietnamese under their protection are safe. On Thursday the Embassy team delivered relief goods to a dormitory which houses 17 Vietnamese apprentices who work for a seafood processing company in Ishikawa.