Meeting of the Emergency Headquarters for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

On August 4, 2026, Prime Minister TAKAICHI attended the sixth 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) 
Thank you all for your continued efforts.

Yesterday, together with Minister for Disaster Management AKAMA and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism KANEKO, I visited the areas affected by the disaster. In addition to conducting a broad aerial inspection of the affected areas, I visited an evacuation shelter established at Hikawa Junior High School in Hikawa Town, where I heard directly from those affected about conditions in the shelter and the concerns that many younger people have about their future.

One evacuee, who had lost the ability to live in his home and was clearly exhausted both physically and emotionally, told me, "I am grateful to have been born in Japan." His words reminded me once again of the tremendous support being extended from people across the country, for which I express my sincere appreciation.

I also exchanged views with Governor KIMURA Takashi of Kumamoto Prefecture, who requested additional support for evacuation shelters as well as further financial assistance. The Government must carefully reflect on the voices we heard and the requests we received. Guided by our unwavering determination to do everything we can, we must promptly examine what further assistance can be provided to the affected areas and those impacted by the disaster, and continue to act proactively and without delay.

With regard to the Contingency Reserve Fund, the Cabinet today approved the use of 24.2 billion yen in order to further accelerate and strengthen: proactive assistance in the delivery of relief supplies; support for rescue operations carried out by prefectural governments; and disaster recovery efforts, including emergency restoration.

Going forward, we will continue to make full use of the Contingency Reserve Fund, without hesitation and in accordance with conditions in the affected areas, from the emergency response phase through full-scale recovery and reconstruction. We must never allow budgetary constraints to delay or impede disaster response.

Although damage assessments are still underway, surveys have progressed rapidly thanks to the dedicated efforts of the affected local governments. Based on the findings to date, we expect to designate this earthquake as a Disaster of Extreme Severity.

Specifically, disaster recovery projects for public civil engineering facilities, agricultural land, and other eligible facilities are expected to be covered by nationwide special measures under this designation.

Please continue making every effort to support recovery in the affected areas so that those impacted by this disaster can return to their daily lives as soon as possible.

During yesterday's visit, I received many requests concerning water supplies. Please continue and accelerate proactive assistance, including the deployment of water supply vehicles, and ensure that water is delivered without fail, with priority given to evacuation shelters, medical institutions, and other facilities where the need is greatest.

Minister KANEKO, as you reported earlier, please continue making every effort to restore water supply and sewerage services by resolving water outages in stages throughout early and mid-August, with the goal of fully restoring service across all affected areas by the end of August.

With regard to electricity, please continue to restore electrical equipment and other facilities at individual homes, convenience stores, and other retail establishments swiftly and carefully.

Fuel supplies, including gasoline, have been increased to approximately four times their normal level. As of yesterday, around 90 percent of gasoline stations had resumed operations even in the three municipalities that suffered the most extensive damage—Yatsushiro City, Uki City, and Hikawa Town.

Please continue supporting the reopening of gasoline stations so that those affected no longer have to worry about securing fuel.

To improve living conditions at evacuation shelters, it is essential that we accurately assess the rapidly changing conditions at each shelter as well as the needs of those affected, and deliver the assistance they require.

I ask each minister to closely monitor conditions at evacuation shelters through the On-site Response Headquarters and other channels, and provide tailored support, including:

the deployment of mobile toilet units; 
the delivery of additional relief supplies for evacuation shelters; 
the provision of hot meals through kitchen trucks; and 
bathing assistance, including through water recycling shower systems.

During my visit to the evacuation shelter in Hikawa Town yesterday, I also heard from an evacuee who was unable to enter the shelter because they had a pet with them.

I immediately instructed those on the ground to address the matter, and arrangements have since been made to establish an evacuation shelter that can accommodate pets.

Minister ISHIHARA, working closely with Minister AKAMA, please support local governments in ensuring that people affected by the disaster are able to evacuate to shelters without hesitation whenever necessary, even if they are accompanied by their pets.

I understand that on August 2, Kumamoto Prefecture announced that one death is being investigated as a possible disaster-related death.

We take this extremely seriously. Despite the concerted efforts of both Kumamoto Prefecture and the Government to prevent disaster-related deaths under these extremely hot conditions, such a case may already have occurred.

Having survived the direct impact of the earthquake, those lives that were spared must now be protected. We must do everything possible to prevent further disaster-related deaths.

Yesterday, temperatures in the affected areas exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, and the extreme heat is expected to continue. Safeguarding the health of evacuees—including those sheltering at home and those staying in their vehicles—is therefore of the utmost importance.

We will strengthen patrols by police and fire departments to check on those affected, including people sheltering at home and those staying in their vehicles.

Minister UENO, please further strengthen outreach support, including by dispatching teams of public health nurses and other health professionals to raise awareness of heatstroke prevention and provide preventive guidance, as well as by deploying Disaster Infection Control Teams (DICT) to support infection prevention and control.

Preventing disaster-related deaths also requires that those affected be provided with safe and secure housing as quickly as possible.

Secondary evacuation to hotels, traditional Japanese inns, and other accommodation facilities began on August 2. Please accelerate these efforts and carefully assess the needs of older persons, persons with disabilities, and others requiring additional support.

Yesterday, construction began on temporary prefabricated housing in Uki City and Hikawa Town.

Guidance has also begun regarding temporary admission to prefectural housing and the provision of leased temporary housing.

I ask the relevant ministers to work closely with local governments so that those affected can be provided with safe and secure accommodation as quickly as possible.

Today, the PFI vessel HAKUO II is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Yatsushiro.

In addition to providing bathing facilities, accommodation, and meals by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the vessel will also provide medical services by the Japan Medical Association Team (JMAT).

Minister AKAMA and Minister KOIZUMI, please ensure that these support services are launched as quickly as possible for the benefit of those affected.

Furthermore, the medical services to be provided aboard the vessel by JMAT will be the first initiative undertaken under the Act on Promotion of Medical Care through the Utilization of Ships. Please ensure that thorough preparations are made so that this initiative contributes to improving medical care in the affected areas.

Providing comprehensive support to evacuees and delivering essential services—including the prompt issuance of disaster victim certificates—requires that affected local governments have sufficient operational capacity.

To date, the dispatch of 637 support personnel from 35 prefectures and 17 municipalities to the six affected municipalities has already been arranged. These personnel have begun assisting with disaster management, the operation of evacuation shelters, and other response activities. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for their invaluable support.

At the same time, many of the affected local governments continue to face serious personnel shortages.

Minister HAYASHI, I appreciate the efforts you have already made. Please further accelerate coordination among local governments to strengthen personnel support.

The prompt recovery and reconstruction of infrastructure will require a large number of technical personnel, including civil engineers and architects. However, many affected municipalities continue to face shortages of such specialists.

Minister HAYASHI, please continue making steady progress in coordinating the dispatch of the technical personnel needed by affected municipalities from prefectural governments and other local authorities across the country.

Another major challenge in the disaster-stricken areas, where the extreme heat continues, is the disposal of waste, including disaster debris.

Minister ISHIHARA, please support local authorities in ensuring the smooth transport of disaster debris and cleanup waste to temporary storage sites by assisting in the appropriate establishment and operation of such sites. At the same time, please ensure that the collection and treatment of human waste and ordinary household waste continue without disruption.

The people in the affected areas are waiting for the Government's support.

Guided by our unwavering determination to do everything we can, I ask each minister to demonstrate strong leadership and marshal every available resource to advance our response for the benefit of the affected areas and all those impacted by this disaster.

Thank you.