HANOI/MOSCOW – Amidst global concern following the catastrophic 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, the Vietnamese community residing in the affected region has been confirmed to be safe, according to the latest reports from diplomatic sources.
The Embassy of Vietnam in the Russian Federation announced that it had successfully established contact with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the Kamchatka Krai, the administrative region where the earthquake's impact was most severe. As of the latest update, there have been no reports of any Vietnamese nationals being injured or killed in the disaster.
The Vietnamese community in Kamchatka, while relatively small, is an established part of the local population, with many involved in local businesses and labor. Following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami warnings, significant efforts were made by the embassy to reach out and ascertain their status.
"We were deeply concerned following the news of the earthquake and immediately worked to contact our citizens in the region," an embassy official stated. "We are immensely relieved to learn that, for now, everyone is accounted for and safe."
 |
| "Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pham Thu Hang, stated that the situation of Vietnamese people in the affected areas in Russia, Japan, and the United States has been safe so far." |
While the community has been spared from casualties, they, along with all residents of Kamchatka, are contending with the aftermath of the powerful tremor. The situation remains tense, with ongoing aftershocks and authorities still assessing the full extent of the damage from the initial quake and the tsunami waves that struck coastal areas.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the embassy in Moscow to continue monitoring the situation closely and to be prepared to offer any necessary support or citizen protection measures. The embassy has issued advisories to all Vietnamese nationals in the wider Russian Far East, urging them to follow the instructions of local authorities, stay vigilant, and keep in contact. Emergency hotlines have also been widely communicated to the community.
The news has been met with relief from family members back in Vietnam and the wider diaspora, who had been anxiously awaiting information. Authorities have affirmed they will remain in close contact with community leaders in Kamchatka to provide assistance as the region begins to navigate the difficult path to recovery.
