Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > September 2018 > 23rd Meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Heavy Rain in July 2018
The Prime Minister in Action
23rd Meeting of the Emergency Response Headquarters for the Heavy Rain in July 2018
September 6, 2018
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister making a statement (2)
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“First, regarding the Earthquake with an Epicenter in Central and Eastern Iburi Region in Hokkaido Prefecture,* the Government is working as one to carry out rescue and relief operations, and other efforts, with all its strength. I extend my sincere sympathies to everyone who has been affected by the disaster.
In addition, 12 people have lost their lives due to the heavy winds and rains caused by Typhoon No. 21.** I would like to express my heartfelt condolences. I furthermore extend my sympathies to the many people who have been injured or otherwise been affected by the typhoon, including suffering damage to their homes or power outages.
With regard to Kansai International Airport, which has become inundated due to the storm surge and where an access bridge was damaged when a tanker collided with it, we are working around the clock on repairs, including draining water and switching out damaged radio equipment.
Led by the task force set up in the Prime Minister’s Office, we are advancing rigorous considerations on means to restore the functions of the airport as soon as possible. We will first restore domestic flights tomorrow, and proceed to restore international flights as soon as the necessary preparations are in place. While there are many challenges, such as damage to the fueling equipment, we will determine the specific actions to take at each stage of the restoration process, including the emergency stage, temporary reopening and full reopening. We will present an overview of these actions tomorrow.
Regarding the situation on the ground in the areas in western Japan, which were affected by the heavy rains that occurred two months ago, the Government as a whole is carrying out initiatives to rebuild the lives of those affected and restore their ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s daily lives), based on the support package compiled in August. Specifically, we have completed the work to remove debris and landslide sediment from the 10 districts most heavily affected, such as Kawasumi District in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, as well as the emergency work to dredge and remove trees and other debris from rivers, such as the Oda River in Okayama Prefecture and the Hijikawa River in Ehime Prefecture. With respect to the remaining affected districts, we are accelerating efforts so as to complete the work within September. Furthermore, we will make considerate and thorough efforts to restore the ‘nariwai’ of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers affected by the disaster. We will increase the number of eligible travel destinations, such as by including other affected prefectures to the scope of the ’Fukko Shuyu Wari’ (the multi-destination discount program to support reconstruction), which is already being implemented as a measure to counter any negative effects to the tourism industry caused by harmful rumors. Furthermore, regarding efforts to secure temporary housing, approximately 4,500 units of public and provisional temporary housing have been designated to accept residents, and approximately 670 ‘constructed’ emergency temporary houses are expected to be completed this month in the prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime. We will continue to provide seamless support, including the provision of housing, financial assistance and mental care.
In order to advance repair and reconstruction work properly, the Minister of Finance has made preparations for the second tranche of contingency fund disbursements amounting to 61.6 billion yen for the matters currently requiring financial assistance. This will be approved by a Cabinet decision tomorrow.
Repair and reconstruction work in the affected regions must be urgently addressed. I ask everyone to continue to exert every effort for rebuilding and restoring the affected areas, so that the disaster victims can take firm steps towards rebuilding their lives and live with peace of mind, as soon as possible.”
*The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
**Typhoon Jebi
“First, regarding the Earthquake with an Epicenter in Central and Eastern Iburi Region in Hokkaido Prefecture,* the Government is working as one to carry out rescue and relief operations, and other efforts, with all its strength. I extend my sincere sympathies to everyone who has been affected by the disaster.
In addition, 12 people have lost their lives due to the heavy winds and rains caused by Typhoon No. 21.** I would like to express my heartfelt condolences. I furthermore extend my sympathies to the many people who have been injured or otherwise been affected by the typhoon, including suffering damage to their homes or power outages.
With regard to Kansai International Airport, which has become inundated due to the storm surge and where an access bridge was damaged when a tanker collided with it, we are working around the clock on repairs, including draining water and switching out damaged radio equipment.
Led by the task force set up in the Prime Minister’s Office, we are advancing rigorous considerations on means to restore the functions of the airport as soon as possible. We will first restore domestic flights tomorrow, and proceed to restore international flights as soon as the necessary preparations are in place. While there are many challenges, such as damage to the fueling equipment, we will determine the specific actions to take at each stage of the restoration process, including the emergency stage, temporary reopening and full reopening. We will present an overview of these actions tomorrow.
Regarding the situation on the ground in the areas in western Japan, which were affected by the heavy rains that occurred two months ago, the Government as a whole is carrying out initiatives to rebuild the lives of those affected and restore their ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s daily lives), based on the support package compiled in August. Specifically, we have completed the work to remove debris and landslide sediment from the 10 districts most heavily affected, such as Kawasumi District in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, as well as the emergency work to dredge and remove trees and other debris from rivers, such as the Oda River in Okayama Prefecture and the Hijikawa River in Ehime Prefecture. With respect to the remaining affected districts, we are accelerating efforts so as to complete the work within September. Furthermore, we will make considerate and thorough efforts to restore the ‘nariwai’ of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers affected by the disaster. We will increase the number of eligible travel destinations, such as by including other affected prefectures to the scope of the ’Fukko Shuyu Wari’ (the multi-destination discount program to support reconstruction), which is already being implemented as a measure to counter any negative effects to the tourism industry caused by harmful rumors. Furthermore, regarding efforts to secure temporary housing, approximately 4,500 units of public and provisional temporary housing have been designated to accept residents, and approximately 670 ‘constructed’ emergency temporary houses are expected to be completed this month in the prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime. We will continue to provide seamless support, including the provision of housing, financial assistance and mental care.
In order to advance repair and reconstruction work properly, the Minister of Finance has made preparations for the second tranche of contingency fund disbursements amounting to 61.6 billion yen for the matters currently requiring financial assistance. This will be approved by a Cabinet decision tomorrow.
Repair and reconstruction work in the affected regions must be urgently addressed. I ask everyone to continue to exert every effort for rebuilding and restoring the affected areas, so that the disaster victims can take firm steps towards rebuilding their lives and live with peace of mind, as soon as possible.”
*The 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
**Typhoon Jebi
