LOC20:15
17:15 GMT
WASHINGTON, March 11 (KUNA) -- The US government has offered immediate
disaster relief assistance to Japan following the deadly 8.9-magnitude
earthquake, and is working closely with the government of Japan to provide
additional help, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.
"Our consular officers in Japan and in the United States are working to
gather information and assist US citizens in Japan who may have been affected
by the earthquake," she said in a statement released by the State Department.
"I join President Obama in offering our sincere condolences for the loss of
life and damage caused by the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan," Clinton said.
"We are closely monitoring the tsunamis that may impact other parts of the
world, including Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States."
The United States is an unwavering friend and ally of Japan, and "we are
committed to helping Japan respond and recover," she said. "Our thoughts and
prayers are with the people of Japan during this difficult time."
The first waves from a tsunami caused by the earthquake reached the U.S.
mainland along the Oregon coast on Friday morning, but only in the form of
high water, officials said.
Warning sirens were activated along the US West Coast hours earlier to
alert people to evacuate low-lying areas.
Earlier on Friday, wave surges hit Hawaii with no major damage reported,
although there was one report of a 12-foot wave with a 100-foot surge on the
Kona coast of the Big Island. Had coastal areas along the Big Island not been
evacuated, people would have been killed by the tsunami, officials said. (end)
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