Many foreigners have hard time obtaining disaster info in Kumamoto quake

Following the Kumamoto earthquake in July and the torrential rain in Chiba, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has outlined a support package for the affected prefectures. The central government intends to finalize the measures by the end of August.

During a meeting with Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Takaichi discussed the support package for Kumamoto, which includes restoring damaged infrastructure and aiding small and medium-sized enterprises. Kimura requested special financial assistance similar to that provided after the Kumamoto earthquakes ten years prior. He also specifically asked for support in repairing wells, as many households in the region maintain and manage their own wells due to the abundance of groundwater.

Kimura explained that around 30% of households in Yatsushiro city rely on their private wells, which are considered individual or community-owned and not public facilities. Takaichi promised that the national and local governments would collaborate to assess the state of these wells and consider providing financial support, including repairs, as part of disaster relief efforts.

Prime Minister Takaichi also instructed her Cabinet ministers to expedite necessary actions related to the well repairs and regional water supply facilities managed by local communities in Kumamoto Prefecture. Additionally, at a meeting concerning heavy rainfall in Chiba Prefecture on August 13 and 14, Takaichi emphasized the rapid disbursement of ordinary allocation tax to provide aid to local municipalities affected by the disaster.