Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > September 2018 > Fifth Meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
The Prime Minister in Action
Fifth Meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake
September 8, 2018
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address (2)
[Provisional Translation]
On September 8, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“Two days have passed since the earthquake. The rescue and relief efforts for the missing people are a battle against time. Even now rescue units with approximately 40,000 personnel are tirelessly engaging in rescue and relief activities for the missing people, among other operations.
With regard to the power outage that affected 2.95 million homes across Hokkaido, work was carried out throughout the night to increase power supply. As a result, by this morning, the distribution of electricity has been resumed in all regions of Hokkaido and the number of homes experiencing power outage has been reduced to 20,000, which are locate in areas sustained damages to power distribution facilities and others.. We will exert every effort to restore power in these remaining areas. In addition, as power supply is still tight, I would like to ask the people of Hokkaido for their continued cooperation with conserving electricity as much as possible.
With the restoration of power, 80% of all gas stations in Hokkaido, or more than 1,400 gas stations, will reopen today. Convenience stores are also starting businesses in succession; today, the supply of bento (packed meals) will be increased, and three times the usual amount of cup noodles and water has already been shipped.
With the restoration of power, infrastructures have resumed service as well. Meanwhile, approximately 31,000 homes still do not have running water due to the damages to waterworks facilities and others. The relevant entities will continue to make an all-out effort to restore water supply at the earliest possible time.
At this moment, over 10,000 evacuees are facing uneasy and challenging times across Hokkaido. In order to protect the lives and the living environment of the affected people, the Government will continue to utilize push-mode supports to seamlessly supply to the affected people with daily essentials such as water and foods as well as fuels for the power generators of hospitals and others. The Government will provide financial support to this end. We will put together a contingency fund.
I would like to ask everyone to take prompt emergency response and recovery measures, in coordination with the affected municipalities and others, while fully paying heed to the voices and needs of the local people.
With another earthquake with a seismic intensity of 4 occurring last evening, the situation in the affected areas remains unpredictable. I ask the people of Hokkaido to continue to be on alert for earthquake activities and the weather.”
On September 8, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake at the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“Two days have passed since the earthquake. The rescue and relief efforts for the missing people are a battle against time. Even now rescue units with approximately 40,000 personnel are tirelessly engaging in rescue and relief activities for the missing people, among other operations.
With regard to the power outage that affected 2.95 million homes across Hokkaido, work was carried out throughout the night to increase power supply. As a result, by this morning, the distribution of electricity has been resumed in all regions of Hokkaido and the number of homes experiencing power outage has been reduced to 20,000, which are locate in areas sustained damages to power distribution facilities and others.. We will exert every effort to restore power in these remaining areas. In addition, as power supply is still tight, I would like to ask the people of Hokkaido for their continued cooperation with conserving electricity as much as possible.
With the restoration of power, 80% of all gas stations in Hokkaido, or more than 1,400 gas stations, will reopen today. Convenience stores are also starting businesses in succession; today, the supply of bento (packed meals) will be increased, and three times the usual amount of cup noodles and water has already been shipped.
With the restoration of power, infrastructures have resumed service as well. Meanwhile, approximately 31,000 homes still do not have running water due to the damages to waterworks facilities and others. The relevant entities will continue to make an all-out effort to restore water supply at the earliest possible time.
At this moment, over 10,000 evacuees are facing uneasy and challenging times across Hokkaido. In order to protect the lives and the living environment of the affected people, the Government will continue to utilize push-mode supports to seamlessly supply to the affected people with daily essentials such as water and foods as well as fuels for the power generators of hospitals and others. The Government will provide financial support to this end. We will put together a contingency fund.
I would like to ask everyone to take prompt emergency response and recovery measures, in coordination with the affected municipalities and others, while fully paying heed to the voices and needs of the local people.
With another earthquake with a seismic intensity of 4 occurring last evening, the situation in the affected areas remains unpredictable. I ask the people of Hokkaido to continue to be on alert for earthquake activities and the weather.”
