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The Prime Minister in Action
22nd Meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Heavy Rain in July 2018
September 4, 2018
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement
[Provisional Translation]
On September 4, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 22nd meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Heavy Rain in July 2018 at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“Typhoon No. 21* has made landfall at about 12:00 p.m. today with its extreme strength, and is currently moving northward along the coast of the Sea of Japan at high speed.
Several regions, particularly Kinki, have been hit by ferocious winds and rain, and tide levels in the coastal regions are reaching a historical high.
The typhoon is expected to continue moving northward along the coastal line of the Japanese archipelago, facing the Sea of Japan. Please maintain a high level of vigilance across a wide area from western to northern Japan for heavy rain and windstorms.
As of now, many people have been injured and a large number of houses have suffered damage. Approximately 177,000 households across 16 prefectures are experiencing power outages. At Kansai International Airport, a large part of the runways have been flooded. There has also been an accident in which a tanker has collided with the airport’s access bridge. I would like to extend my sympathies to all those who have been affected.
Relevant agencies and other entities, including the police, fire department, coast guard, and power companies, are currently taking steps to accelerate the pace of their designated rescue and relief operations and recovery work as fast as possible.
I ask each of you to swiftly identify the status of the damage and continue to exert your utmost efforts to prevent the spread of damage and injury as much as possible, such as through rescue and relief operations, restoration of infrastructure, and urging residents to evacuate, in cooperation with local governments and related organizations.
Even after the typhoon passes, we might experience heavy rains locally. I ask the people to take action to protect your lives, such as by evacuating early without any hesitation before dark.”
*Typhoon Jebi
