I witnessed how a huge number of people in the centre of Istanbul took refuge in public places such as parks and spent the night there. Huge numbers of people came out in the streets anxious about aftershocks, and fearful that their homes had been destroyed. A guide I met had acquired nettle rash that wouldn't cure, caused by anxiety due to the earthquake. When I saw the news on the local television, and saw the people camping outside, I really felt deep grief. From the bottom of my heart I would like to express my deep sorrow and sympathy for those who suffered this tragedy.
Japan is a country often shaken by earthquakes.
History tells us that great earthquakes occurred in Japan since time immemorial. About 140,000 people were killed or reported missing in the earthquake which had a magnitude of 7.9, and in the large fires caused by it. Afterwards, there have been frequent earthquakes all over Japan, but whenever an earthquake occurs, people are used to respond to it adequately by immediately extinguishing fires and so on. Buildings have also been designed so as to be able to resist great earthquakes. The Japanese people will not forget how warmhearted help and support from all over the world kept pouring into Japan.