Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, expressed his condolences to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa over Japan's New Year's Day earthquake.
In the letter, Minister Szijjártó said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the devastating earthquake that hit Japan. “Let me express my deepest condolence and sincere sympathy to you and the people of Japan in these tragic moments. We trust that your reconstruction efforts will be successful and life can soon return to normal,” Minister Szijjártó said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families at this difficult time,” Minister Szijjártó added. By Thursday, the number of the victims rose to 78 and 50 people are still missing in Ishikawa prefecture, central Japan, after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit on New Year’s Day.