July 31, 2026

Dear President Ozawa,

On behalf of the Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE) and all of our members, I would like to express our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy following the devastating earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July 2026.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of life, the injuries sustained, and the extensive damage caused to communities and infrastructure throughout the affected areas. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families, those who have been injured or displaced, and all residents facing hardship and uncertainty in the aftermath of this disaster.

We also wish to express our sincere respect and appreciation to the emergency responders, engineers, public officials, volunteers, and members of the civil engineering community who are working tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions to conduct rescue operations, restore essential services, assess infrastructure safety, and support the recovery of the affected communities.

Taiwan and Japan share many of the challenges posed by earthquakes and other natural hazards. The civil engineering communities of our two countries have long been united by a common commitment to disaster risk reduction, resilient infrastructure, and the protection of human life. At this difficult time, CICHE stands in solidarity with JSCE and the people of Japan. Should JSCE consider it helpful, CICHE stands ready to provide any assistance or professional cooperation that may contribute to the recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Please convey our heartfelt sympathies to the members of JSCE and to all those affected by this disaster. We sincerely hope that the ongoing rescue and relief efforts will proceed safely and effectively, and that the affected communities will recover and rebuild swiftly. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

Yours sincerely,

Shang-Hsien Hsieh
President
Chinese Institute of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, CICHE