Takaichi Attends 5th Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster Response Meeting

On August 1, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi attended the fifth 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office and spoke in light of the discussion.

Her remarks addressed support for disaster victims, restoration of essential infrastructure, and assistance for businesses. The Prime Minister expressed her determination that the government would continue its efforts by bringing all its resources to bear.

As evacuation continues, fatigue and stress are accumulating, placing a heavy burden on people with illnesses, disabilities, care needs, pregnancy, or advanced age. Heatstroke, economy-class syndrome, and food poisoning were also cited as risks.

By the previous evening, electricity had been restored in all affected areas. Gasoline supply had risen to 4 times normal levels, and the number of operating gas stations in Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town had doubled from two days earlier. Sales limits had been lifted at almost all stores.

The number of closed convenience stores in the prefecture fell from about 200 initially to about 60. More than half of stores in Yatsushiro City, Uki City, Hikawa Town, and Uto City had also resumed operations.

Some factories near the earthquake’s epicenter that form part of automotive and semiconductor supply chains have experienced production disruptions. Moves to resume operations have been seen, particularly among finished-product manufacturers.

Citing past earthquakes in which people were found trapped under furniture only after lengthy searches, she called for relevant agencies to coordinate closely to determine whether anyone still needed rescue or assistance. Public health center teams and police officers would step up checks, including on people sheltering at home or in their cars, and strengthen consultation and support for daily living.

Doctors, nurses, and other members of DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams) are providing medical support and managing the health of people in shelters and at home. Deliveries include food, water, liquid formula, air conditioners, cooling sheets, temporary toilets, sweat-wiping sheets, and diapers; partitions are being used to ensure privacy. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force installed simple showers the previous day, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force planned to transport and install water and additional simple showers aboard a vessel that day.

For people wishing to move outside the affected areas, she instructed officials to accelerate relocation by coordinating with local governments to secure vacant hotel and inn rooms. Based on needs identified by government staff dispatched from the local response headquarters, officials would work with local governments, medical institutions, and others to provide necessary support.

She called for gathering as many water trucks as possible from across Japan to serve areas without running water, and for using portable purification units to treat seawater and river water and deliver it. Work is underway to provide an approximate outlook for emergency water service restoration by the end of next week. She also called for on-site surveys, restoration plans, support for emergency repairs, and dispatch of technical staff from local governments nationwide to speed restoration of water and sewer services.

On July 29, the Japan Finance Corporation launched lending outside its regular lending framework, along with a separate Safety Net Guarantee No. 4 offered by credit guarantee associations. The previous day, the government asked public and private financial institutions to expedite lending and consider changing loan terms, including deferring repayments. She asked the relevant ministers to monitor effects on businesses and track factory production and prospects for resuming production and shipments, while supporting restarts and minimizing disruption to supply chains.