On the evening of April 14, a 6.5 Richter scale earthquake occurred in Japan Kumamoto, and on the morning of the 16 another 7.3 Richter scale earthquake occurred. The Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) received a request for assistance from two female Macao residents that were staying in the remote area of Aso Kyushu city and in safe conditions. The Consulate of the People's Republic of China in Fukuoka, Japan and the Macao Government Tourist Office Representation Office in Japan have been maintaining in contact with local government offices and police in order to arrange appropriate assistance. The two residents departed this morning to the Oita airport and flew from Oita to Osaka. Tomorrow they will board an Air Macau return flight from Osaka to Macao. Through the Macao Government Tourist Office Representation Office in Japan the GGCT is assisting on transportation arrangements from the domestic airport to the international airport, as well as hotel accommodation.

Until the present moment, GGCT received 6 (six) requests for information regarding flight arrangements to speed up return to Macao and 10 (ten) requests for normal information.

From information obtained through the Macao travel industry, three Macao tour groups initially scheduled to depart on the 18 and 19 of April to Fukuoka with 100 participants will be canceled.

If necessary, Macao residents can call:

24-hour Tourism Hotline (853) 2833 3000;

24 hours duty officer phone of Consulate General of China in Fukuoka: 090-6298-9986 or the Global Emergency Call Center for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hour hotline: +86 10 12308 for assistance.