Japan helps PHL quake response

THE Japanese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday said Japan has been providing satellite imagery to support the Philippines’ response to the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Mindanao.

In a statement, the embassy said the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been conducting emergency observations and supplying satellite images of affected areas in southern Mindanao since June 9 through Sentinel Asia, an international disaster management cooperation framework.

The images were captured by JAXA’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 and Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4.

The assistance comes as authorities continue to assess the impact of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani on June 8.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in its June 16 situational report said the earthquake has affected 337,541 families, or about 1.38 million people, across 512 villages, with 68 reported dead, 1,339 injured, and 33 missing, while damage to infrastructure was estimated at P1.07 billion and losses to agriculture at P29.8 million.

Japan said it would continue working closely with the Philippines to support recovery efforts in affected communities.

Sentinel Asia was established in 2006 under the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), a regional cooperation platform led by Japan. The framework allows participating countries and organizations to share Earth observation satellite data and other information during disasters.

According to the embassy, APRSAF is composed of 127 space and disaster management organizations, with JAXA serving as its secretariat. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez