[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 19th meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Earthquake Centered in the Kumamoto Region of Kumamoto Prefecture 2016 at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, reports and discussions were held on the situation pertaining to damage and the response of each ministry and agency

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Two weeks have passed since the first earthquake. There are still people without access to gas or water, but with the assistance of businesses from across Japan we are now aiming to completely restore the gas supply by the end of April, ahead of the initial schedule. I request that all of you continue to exert maximum efforts to restore the water supply as well, so that those affected by the disaster can have warm meals in their homes and take hot baths as soon as possible.

Today, a Cabinet decision was made to designate this earthquake as a Specified Emergency Disaster and approve a government ordinance on special measures, including extending the validity of drivers’ licenses, among other provisions. This ordinance will be promulgated and implemented on May 2, and I ask that each government agency and ministry make all the preparations necessary for swiftly announcing these provisions.

As for the supplementary budget, we will provide robust support to SMEs, small businesses, and farmers affected by this disaster, through the formulation of a new emergency fund, and make the necessary preparations for them to be able to resume their livelihoods as soon as possible. We have already received requests for subsidies and other matters. We will promptly respond to these requests after formulating the budget based on a detailed understanding of the situation on the ground and the views of those affected by the disaster. I would like each ministry to accelerate preparations based on a stance of doing everything possible for the affected areas.

I intend to visit the affected areas again tomorrow. I will visit the most heavily damaged areas, including Nishihara Village and Kumamoto City, as well as Oita Prefecture, to see the situation on the ground and also speak directly with those affected about their concerns. Based on a thorough understanding of the situation in the affected areas, I intend to accelerate efforts to restore the lives of the affected people, and to reconstruct and restore the affected areas.”