US readies aid as Japan earthquake death toll nears 100
- Japan is in talks with the US about emergency assistance and rejected offers for help from other countries including China for the time being
- Over 200 people remain missing, 94 have been killed and 33,000 have evacuated their homes
“The US is here to support our friend and ally in its earthquake response. Military logistical support, food, and other supplies are being readied,” US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel posted on social media site X.
“We are not accepting any personnel or material aid from other countries or regions at the moment, given the situation on the ground and the effort that would be required to receive them,” Japan’s top spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
A US official who declined to be named told Reuters the two governments were coordinating on possible assistance from US troops.
About 54,000 US forces personnel are based in Japan, the biggest US military presence abroad, according to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
US armed forces were deeply involved in disaster relief efforts in the 2011 earthquake, providing over 24,000 personnel with 24 ships and 189 aircraft. They also provided earthquake aid in Kyushu island in 2016.