Meeting of the Emergency Headquarters for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

On August 10, 2026, Prime Minister TAKAICHI attended the ninth meeting of the Emergency Headquarters for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake at the Prime Minister's Office.

Based on today's discussions, the Prime Minister stated the following:

(Prime Minister TAKAICHI) 
Thank you all for your continued hard work.

Today, we received requests from Governor KIMURA of Kumamoto Prefecture, who has been leading disaster response efforts on the ground. His requests focused on two key areas:

first, support for improving sanitary conditions at evacuation shelters, securing water for daily living, and ensuring the provision of medical and welfare services amid the extreme heat; and 
second, support for recovery and reconstruction based on the assistance provided by the national government following the earthquake ten years ago, particularly enhanced support for businesses that have suffered repeated disaster damage and those that sustained extensive damage.

Taking the Governor's requests into account, I ask each minister to continue taking proactive action, including by incorporating the necessary measures into the support package for rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of those affected, the preparation of which I instructed at our previous meeting.

With regard to support for rebuilding people's lives, the Act on Support for Reconstructing Livelihoods of Disaster Victims is expected to be applied throughout Kumamoto Prefecture, as extensive damage to residential buildings has been confirmed.

This will make it possible to provide assistance grants of up to three million yen.

Minister AKAMA, please strengthen coordination with the relevant ministers to ensure the prompt issuance of disaster victim certificates, enabling those affected to receive assistance without delay.

Tomorrow marks two weeks since the earthquake struck.

Improving living conditions at evacuation shelters remains an extremely important priority.

Please identify specific needs for evacuation shelter support supplies—including mobile toilet vehicles, cardboard beds, bathing support such as water-recycling shower units, and kitchen trucks—and continue providing even more tailored assistance.

Efforts to promote secondary evacuation have also been strengthened. On August 8, Kumamoto Prefecture established a call center to accept applications from those wishing to evacuate to hotels and inns.

In addition, efforts to secure temporary housing continue to progress steadily. Construction of temporary prefabricated housing has already begun in Uki City and Hikawa Town, was launched in Misato Town on August 9, and began today in Kumamoto City. Applications for leased temporary housing are now being accepted in fourteen municipalities.

Minister AKAMA, please continue providing hands-on support to municipalities so that living conditions at evacuation shelters continue to improve and those affected can steadily move into temporary housing.

Furthermore, HAKUO II, which had temporarily departed Yatsushiro Port due to the approach of Typhoon No. 13, returned to the port today.

Beginning tomorrow, August 11, bathing support, air-conditioned rest areas, and medical services under the Act on the Promotion of Medical Services through the Utilization of Vessels are scheduled to resume.

Regarding crimes exploiting the disaster, as of 8:30 a.m. today, seven criminal cases, including theft, have been identified, and one suspect was arrested the day before yesterday.

The National Police Agency and prefectural police should continue responding firmly to crimes exploiting the disaster while steadily advancing measures to ensure the safety and security of affected communities, including the additional installation of security cameras. Please continue every possible effort to prevent crime and alleviate the concerns of those affected.

As for the health management of evacuees—including those sheltering at home or staying in their vehicles—medical and welfare teams, including Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) and Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Teams (DPAT), have been providing support. Going forward, however, more evacuees will be relocating from evacuation shelters to secondary evacuation sites and other accommodations.

Minister UENO, please ensure that a seamless support system is in place so that everyone in need continues to receive the necessary assistance.

With regard to water, please continue and thoroughly implement proactive water supply assistance, including the deployment of water supply trucks, so that water deliveries to medical and welfare institutions and evacuation shelters are never interrupted.

As Minister KOIZUMI reported earlier, the United States military has provided assistance transporting drinking water both yesterday and today. I would like to express my sincere appreciation.

Many wells are used throughout the affected areas. However, some have become unusable because of earthquake-related turbidity and other damage. Please work with industry organizations to secure well-repair contractors and take the necessary measures.

Repairs to water distribution pipelines have now been completed in an increasing number of areas. At the same time, please ensure that residents are informed of qualified contractors capable of repairing private plumbing systems, so that water service can be restored smoothly to individual households.

Rapid restoration of transportation networks is indispensable to rebuilding the daily lives of those affected.

JR Kyushu is expected to announce the timetable for restoring currently suspended railway services later this month.

Regarding expressways, as Minister KANEKO reported earlier, emergency vehicles will be able to travel along the entire Kyushu Expressway beginning tomorrow, August 11, and the road is expected to reopen to general traffic in the latter half of August.

Minister KANEKO, please continue working closely with the operators and make every possible effort—including through technical support—to achieve restoration as early as possible.

Minister MATSUMOTO, please provide the necessary support to ensure the smooth start of the new school term in the affected areas.

In particular, with regard to schools currently serving as evacuation shelters, please ensure thorough support so that the necessary coordination on the ground proceeds smoothly.

As for disaster volunteers, as of today, 11 Disaster Volunteer Centers established by municipalities in the affected areas have begun operations. Coordination of support by NPOs and other organizations with specialized expertise is also progressing.

Minister AKAMA, please take the lead in providing appropriate support for the volunteer activities that are now expanding in earnest.

With regard to the treatment of disaster waste, municipalities are facing growing demand for support in carrying out publicly funded demolition and removal of damaged buildings.

Minister ISHIHARA, please accelerate assistance to municipalities in preparing for these operations, including emergency publicly funded demolition where necessary. At the same time, make full use of the Support Coordination Headquarters established jointly by the Ministry of the Environment, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kumamoto City to provide prompt and efficient assistance tailored to the needs of affected municipalities.

Officials from local governments across Japan have already been dispatched to support the affected municipalities. In addition, personnel from various ministries and agencies are working on the ground to assist with disaster waste management, heatstroke prevention, and other response efforts.

I would once again like to express my sincere appreciation for their dedicated service.

At the same time, each affected municipality faces different circumstances and challenges, and their needs vary accordingly.

Minister HAYASHI, together with the other ministers, please ensure that the necessary manpower is deployed to the affected areas so that municipalities and those affected receive the support they need.

Regarding damage suffered by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the expected designation of this disaster as a localized severe disaster will make it possible, through the Local Government Partnership Subsidy Program, to support recovery projects undertaken by Kumamoto Prefecture for SMEs and small businesses throughout the prefecture at a subsidy rate equivalent to that provided under the Subsidy Program for Business Continuity and Recovery.

Working closely with Kumamoto Prefecture and taking into account the actual circumstances faced by affected businesses, please examine such matters as the scope of eligible beneficiaries and support for businesses that have suffered repeated disaster damage. Minister AKAZAWA and Minister KATAYAMA, please take the lead in providing careful and flexible support for affected SMEs and small businesses.

We have also heard concerns from local communities about whether regional employment can be maintained.

Minister UENO and the other relevant ministers should work together to implement measures that will provide reassurance to the people affected.

As Governor Kimura also requested, the Government will devote its full efforts to supporting recovery and reconstruction.

Revitalizing the regional economy in the affected areas will require both the recovery of tourism demand and the elimination of harmful rumors.

Minister KANEKO, please move swiftly and steadily to implement the necessary measures to stimulate tourism demand in the affected areas and surrounding regions, and to counter harmful rumors, taking into account local needs and the progress of recovery efforts.

In addition, damage to cultural properties, including the collapse of stone walls at Kumamoto Castle, has become increasingly apparent.

Minister MATSUMOTO, please spare no effort to ensure the preservation and proper management of damaged cultural properties, and work closely with affected municipalities so that restoration can proceed as quickly as possible.

Taking the Governor's requests fully into account, and bearing in mind the realities faced by regions that have repeatedly suffered disasters—including the earthquake ten years ago and successive flood disasters—let us continue to move forward decisively, under our commitment to do everything we can, by bringing together the full capabilities of the Government for the benefit of the affected areas and all those impacted by this disaster.

Thank you very much. Governor, thank you for joining us today.