MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is closely monitoring the situation in Japan after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the country’s northeastern coast.

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo has yet to receive reports of Filipino casualties. Embassy personnel and the Migrant Workers Office are coordinating with Filipino community leaders and local authorities to check on the condition of Filipinos in affected areas.

The quake triggered a special advisory late on December 8 warning of the possibility of another strong offshore earthquake in the Hokkaido–Sanriku region within the week. As of Tuesday morning, tsunami advisories have been lifted.

The seven prefectures affected — Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima — are home to an estimated 13,000 Filipinos.

The Embassy urged Filipinos in northern Japan to stay alert, follow safety instructions from local authorities, and prepare for possible aftershocks. Those needing assistance or wishing to report affected relatives may contact the Embassy’s emergency hotline at +81 80-4928-7979 or reach out through its official social media channels.