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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe flew to the earthquake-stricken site in Niigata Prefecture on a Self-Defense Force (SDF) helicopter from the Prime Minister's Official Residence, immediately after returning from Nagasaki Prefecture in response to the earthquake that occurred off the coast of the northern Chuetsu region, Niigata Prefecture, which struck Niigata and Nagano Prefectures with a quake of seismic intensity 6 Upper.
Upon arrival, Prime Minister Abe observed the extent of the damage at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station, and then received a report on the status of damage during his visit to the Kashiwazaki City Office. Prime Minister Abe then visited an elementary school where people are taking refuge and extended words of encouragement to the people affected by the disaster.
After observing the status of the disaster, Prime Minister Abe returned to the Prime Minister's Official Residence and held a ministerial meeting on disaster countermeasures for this earthquake. After receiving reports from the ministers concerned on the damage caused by the earthquake, the Prime Minister addressed the ministers, telling them, "I ask the ministers concerned to strive to clear the anxiety of the people affected by the earthquake and exert utmost efforts for the recovery of lifelines and transportation systems to ensure that the people affected can return to their lives with peace of mind. I expect the government to unify the efforts to provide thorough countermeasures while maintaining proper coordination with prefectural and municipal governments."
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