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On June 21, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Osaka Prefecture in order to gauge the state of damage caused by the earthquake with the epicenter in northern Osaka Prefecture.

The Prime Minister first inspected the bathing support activities provided by the Self-Defense Force in Ibaraki City, and then visited the site where a concrete wall at an elementary school in Takatsuki City collapsed due to the earthquake. Following his visit to one of the evacuation centers in Takatsuki City afterwards, the Prime Minister exchanged views with Mr. Ichiro Matsui, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Mr. Takeshi Hamada, Mayor of Takatsuki City, and Mr. Yoichi Fukuoka, Mayor of Ibaraki City, at Takatsuki City Hall.

After his visits, the Prime Minister said, 

“First, I would like to pray once more for the repose of the souls of those who died as a result of this earthquake and offer my deepest condolences to their bereaved family members. I also extend my heartfelt sympathy to all those who have been affected by this earthquake.

A moment ago, I visited the site of the tragic accident where a young life was taken by the collapse of a concrete wall. The incident was tragic and heartbreaking, occurring only a few steps away from the safety of the school grounds. I can offer no words when considering the feelings of her parents and her family. I have heard that the funeral was held today, and I would like to once again offer my most heartfelt condolences. We should not let such a tragedy happen again. To ensure the safety of schools, we will conduct urgent safety inspections on concrete block walls across Japan. It is my intention to do everything possible to protect the lives of our children.

With regard to infrastructure, electricity and water have been almost restored. Meanwhile, many are still facing gas outages and are affected by that. From today, through the cooperation of gas providers nationwide, 4,400 gas utility workers have been working to restore gas lines by next Monday. Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again extend my appreciation to all of their efforts.

I also visited an evacuation center a little earlier. I heard from the evacuees about their extreme hardships and feelings of insecurity. While being fully aware of the feelings for those affected by this earthquake, we will respond to their needs sensibly and attentively.
 
I just spoke with officials from the municipalities affected by the disaster. The Government will take necessary fiscal measures, including promptly providing regular local allocation tax ahead of schedule, so that the municipalities affected by this earthquake can dedicate their fullest efforts to the emergency response and recovery work without concerns over their own fiscal situation.

The Government will make all-out efforts, while working together with relevant municipalities, to ensure that all those affected by the disaster are able to return to their daily lives with peace of mind at the earliest possible date.”