[Provisional translation]
[Opening Statement by Prime Minister Takaichi]
At approximately 7:30 a.m. today, an earthquake with its epicenter off the coast of Iwate Prefecture occurred, and strong tremors with a maximum seismic intensity of 6 upper were observed in Hashikami Town, Aomori Prefecture. There is no risk of a tsunami.
Immediately after the earthquake, the Government established an information contact office at the Prime Minister’s Office Crisis Management Center and convened an emergency gathering team consisting of director-general-level officials from the relevant ministries and agencies. We are making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures, including rescue and relief operations.
I instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to:
1. Assess the state of affairs regarding damage as soon as possible.
2. Act in close coordination with local governments and, under the principle of prioritizing human life above all else, spare no effort in our emergency disaster responses, including saving lives and rescuing disaster victims, with the Government working as one.
3. Provide information to the public regarding evacuation and the state of damages, etc., in a timely and appropriate manner.
I ask those in areas that experienced strong tremors to remain alert for further earthquakes of similar intensity. I will be receiving a detailed briefing on the situation and continue to direct the Government's disaster response efforts.