Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > October, 2004

Prime Minister Koizumi Visits the Disaster Site of Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu (Central Niigata Prefecture) Earthquake Tuesday, October 26, 2004 Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Nagaoka City and Ojiya City in Niigata Prefecture that have been damaged by the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake which occurred on October 23. Prime Minister Koizumi made observations of the disaster areas in Ojiya City and visited the high school in Nagaoka City and civic gymnasium in Ojiya City where many residents have evacuated to and are taking refuge, to whom he offered his words of sympathy and encouragement. Prime Minister Koizumi also flew on a helicopter to examine the site where the Joetsu Shinkansen derailed in Nagaoka City and the condition of Yamakoshi village which has been isolated as its roads have been severed by the earthquake. After encouraging the victims at the high school in Nagaoka City, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I believe it is the sincere wish of the earthquake victims to go back to their ordinary lifestyle as soon as possible. We intend to implement measures in cooperation with the local governments concerned." As for the assistance measures for employees working at the site providing assistance to the victims, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "We must also consider supporting those who provide assistance to the victims. I wish for them to work at the damage sites with the cooperation of the people in charge of disaster prevention at each local government."