Meeting of the Emergency Headquarters for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

On August 1, 2026, Prime Minister TAKAICHI attended the fifth meeting of the Emergency Headquarters for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake at the Prime Minister's Office.

Based on today's discussion, the Prime Minister made the following remarks.

(Prime Minister TAKAICHI) 
I would like to express my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and extend my heartfelt sympathies to their bereaved families. I also wish to express my deepest respect and sincere appreciation to everyone who continues to devote themselves to search and rescue operations under these extremely hot conditions.

Past earthquakes have shown that some victims trapped beneath fallen furniture were not discovered for an extended period of time. I therefore ask all relevant organizations to continue working in close coordination and to conduct thorough checks to ensure that no one in need of rescue is left behind.

Approximately 8,800 people, primarily in Kumamoto Prefecture, remain in evacuation shelters. I also understand that many people continue to shelter at home or stay in their vehicles.

With temperatures expected to reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days, we remain deeply concerned about the risks of heatstroke, economy class syndrome, and food poisoning.

To ensure that close attention is paid to the condition of those affected, we will strengthen outreach activities by public health center teams, police officers, and other personnel to regularly check on evacuees, including those sheltering at home and those staying in their vehicles.

At the same time, we will further strengthen consultation and daily living support services for those affected.

We have also heard deeply concerning voices from evacuees who are experiencing growing fatigue and stress as evacuation shelter life becomes increasingly prolonged. The burden is particularly severe for those with illnesses, persons with disabilities, those requiring nursing care, pregnant women, and older persons.

The Government is providing medical assistance through physicians, nurses, and other members of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). We will continue to do everything possible to safeguard the health of those staying in evacuation shelters as well as those sheltering at home.

We will continue working to improve conditions at evacuation shelters, including by ensuring greater privacy through the installation of partitions, while responding carefully to the needs expressed by those on the ground.

As the extreme heat continues, many evacuees have requested opportunities to bathe. Yesterday, the Ground Self-Defense Force installed temporary shower facilities. In addition, today the Maritime Self-Defense Force is scheduled to transport and install additional temporary shower facilities by ship, together with the water required for their operation.

Furthermore, for those who wish to relocate outside the affected areas according to their individual circumstances and needs, I ask Minister AKAMA to accelerate efforts—working closely with local governments—to facilitate such relocations by making active use of available rooms at hotels and traditional Japanese inns outside the disaster-stricken areas.

I also ask the relevant ministers to ensure that the necessary assistance is delivered without fail by working closely with local governments, medical institutions, and other relevant organizations, based on the needs identified by the government officials dispatched by the On-site Response Headquarters.

Although all ministers have been making every effort to strengthen water supply assistance while water outages continue, ensuring an adequate supply of water in affected areas remains one of the most critical measures for maintaining the quality of daily life.

I ask the relevant ministers to employ every possible means to mobilize as many water supply vehicles as possible from across the country to the affected areas. In addition, please deploy portable water purification systems capable of purifying seawater and river water so that as much water as possible can be delivered to those affected.

With regard to water services, I have been informed that efforts are underway to present an overall outlook for emergency restoration by sometime next week. However, the early restoration of water supply and sewerage systems themselves will require comprehensive support, including on-site inspections, the preparation of restoration plans, and the implementation of emergency restoration work.

Minister KANEKO and Minister HAYASHI, I ask you to continue making every effort to ensure the earliest possible restoration of water supply and sewerage infrastructure, including by coordinating the dispatch of technical personnel specializing in water supply and sewerage systems from local governments across the country.

Turning to other essential infrastructure, restoration has been progressing steadily. As of yesterday evening, electricity service has been restored throughout all affected areas.

Fuel supplies have also improved significantly. Thanks to the temporary restoration of the Yatsushiro oil terminal and expanded tanker truck transport capacity in cooperation with the police, gasoline supplies have increased to approximately four times their normal level.

Through individual notifications and public information regarding the restoration of electricity service, the number of operating gasoline stations has doubled compared with two days ago, even in Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town, where infrastructure damage has been particularly severe.

Restrictions on gasoline sales have now been lifted at almost all gasoline stations. I especially encourage those who continue to stay in their vehicles to refuel whenever possible in order to help prevent heatstroke.

Minister AKAZAWA, please continue your efforts to ensure a stable fuel supply and to provide timely information on the operating status of gasoline stations.

Convenience stores, which play an essential role in providing daily necessities, have also steadily resumed operations thanks to the tireless efforts of their employees, the restoration of electricity, and the prioritization of product deliveries. The number of temporarily closed stores in Kumamoto Prefecture has declined from approximately 200 immediately after the disaster to around 60. More than half of the convenience stores in Yatsushiro City, Uki City, Hikawa Town, and Uto City have now reopened.

To ensure that businesses affected by the disaster do not encounter difficulties in securing financing, on July 29 the Government launched special financing measures through the Japan Finance Corporation, in addition to its regular lending programs, as well as Safety Net Guarantee No. 4, under which Credit Guarantee Corporations provide 100 percent guarantees through a separate framework.

Furthermore, yesterday the Government requested both public and private financial institutions to provide thorough and flexible support to affected businesses, including by expediting loan procedures and accommodating requests to modify loan conditions, such as repayment deferrals.

Minister KATAYAMA, Minister AKAZAWA, and the other relevant ministers, I ask you to continue closely monitoring the impact on businesses and to ensure that every possible measure is taken so that business activities can continue without disruption.

Some factories that form part of supply chains for automobiles, semiconductors, and other industries located near the epicentral area continue to experience disruptions to production.

While manufacturers of finished products have already begun resuming operations, Minister AKAZAWA, I ask you to support affected businesses in their efforts to restart production and shipments. At the same time, please continue closely monitoring production conditions and the outlook for the resumption of production and shipments at affected factories so as to minimize the impact on supply chains across the country.

Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all businesses, professionals, and local governments that have been providing invaluable support through the supply of relief goods, the restoration of infrastructure, and medical, welfare, and other assistance for those affected by this disaster.

The Government will continue to devote the full strength of its efforts to this response, guided by our determination to do everything we can.