Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2003

The Eighth Central Disaster Prevention Council Monday, July 28, 2003 The Eighth Central Disaster Prevention Council was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the Council exchanged views on the earthquake disaster in northern Miyagi Prefecture, where tremors of intensity 6 on the Japanese seismic scale struck on July 26 and the aftershocks are continuing, and on the torrential rain disaster resulting from the July seasonal rain front centered on the Kyushu region. The Council decided on establishment of an expert committee on earthquakes in the Japan Trench region, revisions to the Basic Plan for Earthquake Disaster Prevention and prioritization of disaster prevention measures for FY2004. It also consulted on the designation of regions for the promotion of disaster prevention measures in relation to the Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. In the opening address to the Council, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "It is fortunate that there were no fatalities in the northern Miyagi Prefecture earthquake, but 3,000 people have been forced to evacuate. I would like to see central and local government work cooperatively to exert every possible effort on the relief and recovery of victims. The torrential rain disaster resulting from the seasonal rain front caused enormous damage and took the lives of 23 people, and I would like a full investigation into any failings or points for improvement in the evacuation instructions. This coming September 1 marks 80 years from the Great Kanto Earthquake, and we will implement the Comprehensive Drill for Disaster Prevention that assumes a major earthquake directly beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. Please strive to make this training more practical to prepare against actual disaster."