Pasalao

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said no Lao nationals died in the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan's northeast coast on Friday, though officials are still trying to trace one student.

Mr Hiem Phommachanh ( right ) presents a donation to Ms Junko Yokota in Vientiane yesterday.

The ministry issued a notice on March 12 - the day after Friday's massive earthquake – for the information of the relatives of Lao students and workers in Japan.

Shortly after the quake struck in the middle of the afternoon, the Lao Embassy to Japan contacted Japanese officials and the Lao Students and Workers' association to obtain details, a press release from the ministry said.

“No Lao victims of the disaster have been reported so far,” the press release said, adding that the Lao Embassy in Tokyo is working with Japanese officials to locate a student they have been unable to contact.

The ministry called for the student's relatives to provide any information they may have received. Those who want to know any further details can call the following numbers:

1. Lao Embassy to Japan: 0081354112291

2. Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mobile: 0085620 99779648

3. Asia-Pacific and Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mobile: 008562099424419

Yesterday the Lao government agreed to provide US$100,000 in emergency relief to the victims of the disaster.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hiem Phommachanh represented the Lao government in presenting the donation to Japanese ambassador to Laos Ms Junko Yokota.